ICE chief faces rowdy crowd at California forum

The Sacramento County Sheriff and the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) faced a rowdy crowd Tuesday night in California during a community forum on immigration.

The purpose of the forum, held in Sacramento, was to allow people to “hear directly from the top about how immigration enforcement is being prioritized in the community, what role the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department or other local law enforcement plays, and what information is true or false.”

“While agreement may not be reached, the intent of this forum is to try and find common ground by reducing conflicting information, eliminating ambiguity, and reducing fear by presenting factual information directly from their sources,” a flier tweeted out by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department said.

Community Forum on Immigration 2morrow evening, Mar 28th. See flyer 4 details. We will also b steaming live on FB, if u are unable 2 attend. pic.twitter.com/81UQtbNeNw

— Sacramento Sheriff (@sacsheriff) March 27, 2017

{mosads}Some protesters gathered outside the community forum for a “Unity Rally,” according to the Los Angeles Times.

More than two dozen protestors gather outside community forum for a “Unity Rally,” to be led by Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. #caleg pic.twitter.com/ORdEEOYFnS

— Jazmine Ulloa (@jazmineulloa) March 28, 2017

Inside the event, people chanted: “Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here,” according to reporters at the forum. People could also be heard shouting, “No ban, no wall.”

Inside, people are chanting “Say it loud! say it clear! Immigrants are welcome here.” @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/22RFOQEqyz

— Frances Wang (@ABC10Frances) March 29, 2017

A group wearing shirts that spelled out “ICE OUT” were asked to leave the forum, according to a reporter from ABC 10.

A group wearing shirts that spell ICE OUT asked to leave. @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/b3Fysru7Ea

— Frances Wang (@ABC10Frances) March 29, 2017

During the event, Sheriff Scott Jones and acting director of ICE Thomas Homan spoke to the crowd and answered questions.

“We don’t walk through neighborhoods looking for people that are different than we are,” Homan said during the forum, according to the LA Times.

Homan also said ICE is a law enforcement agency, noting the agency doesn’t get to “pick and choose what we enforce.”

“We are sworn law enforcement officers that enforce the laws on the books, and that’s what we’re doing,” he said. “No one would ask the FBI not to enforce the laws. … ICE is a law enforcement agency and the men and women of ICE are sworn to enforce the laws and that’s what we have to do.”

Lots of cursing and booing from the crowd as Jones says he has a contract with ICE to house immigrant detainees. “How much money Jones?” https://t.co/RzVDl50527

— Jazmine Ulloa (@jazmineulloa) March 29, 2017

ICE director Thomas Homan says America is a nation of immigrants but also a nation of laws that he must enforce. pic.twitter.com/kYRcoCCc8g

— Jazmine Ulloa (@jazmineulloa) March 29, 2017

The forum comes a day after Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced state and local governments seeking Justice Department grants must certify they are not sanctuary cities to receive the money. Such cities’ policies says that their local officials will not participate in federal law enforcement efforts to deport undocumented immigrants.