A Brockton, Massachusetts lawmaker is in hot water with federal immigrations officials who say the lawmaker took to Facebook and issued a frantic warning to illegal immigrants about rumored Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sweeps in the areas.
Michelle DuBois, a Democratic state representative, posted on Facebook, “If you’re undocumented don’t go out on the street. If there is a knock on the door of your house and you don’t know who it is, don’t open the door. I ask you to be careful.”
She claims to have written the post in response to her contacts in the “Latin Community” who were allegedly discussing the purported raids a great deal.
ICE Officials, however, did not appreciate a lawmaker spreading rumors and said it “does not conduct random sweeps” or provide advance notice about operations.
“Any person who actively incites panic or fear of law enforcement is doing a disservice to the community, endangering public safety and the very people they claim to support and represent,” Shawn Neudauer, an ICE spokesman, said of DuBois’ post.
Brockton Police and other city officials, including the Mayor told local news stations they do not comment on rumors.
Despite the widespread criticism, DuBois steadfastly defended her post in a text message that said she at least started a conversation that ICE should publicize raids in the future so “everyone in Brockton is aware of ICE’s planned raid (if there was one).”
At a planned rally after the tweet, she claimed she was not anti-police and said she was not calling for an overthrow of the current police force.
[image via screengrab]
