White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Thursday slammed Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf for tipping off illegal immigrants to a federal raid over the weekend, calling it "outrageous" and saying it jeopardized agents' safety.
"It is outrageous that a mayor would circumvent federal authority and certainly put them in danger by making a move such as that," Sanders told reporters at the daily briefing.
"That is currently under review by the Department of Justice."
Schaaf, a first-term Democrat, told residents Saturday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were arresting illegals in a sweep that began Sunday in northern California cities.
She defended her actions Tuesday, saying in a statement her goal was to "give all residents time to learn their rights and know their legal options.
"It was my intention that one mother, or one father, would use the information to help keep their family together," Schaaf added. "I do not regret sharing this information.
"It is Oakland's legal right to be a sanctuary city, and we have not broken any laws."
ICE officials said Wednesday they had arrested 150 aliens in the sweeps throughout the region, missing as many as 800, and Acting Director Thomas Homan ripped Schaaf's "reckless decision" as part of "her political agenda."
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