Immigration Reform 2016: Amid Obama's Deportation Raids, Maryland County Refuses To Comply

Just to the north of Washington, D.C., leaders in the adjacent Montgomery County in Maryland are warning President Barack Obama and his administration that they have no intention of complying with new deportation raids that target women and children who came from Central America, according to WUSA 9. The raids started strong recently across the country, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents knocking on doors and carting people off for deportation.

The deportation raids have stirred condemnation from more than just Montgomery County. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Obama’s former secretary of state, criticized the actions Monday at a forum in Iowa. Clinton, the favorite to win the Democratic nomination, joins competitors Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vt., and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley in criticizing the administration.

Those fearing deportation have described frightening encounters with immigration officials looking for them. In a Texas community, for instance, one undocumented immigrant was snagged after hours of hiding behind closed curtains with held breath. Officers rang the doorbell of the house at 4:30 a.m. and didn’t leave until 7:00 a.m. The officers later pulled over one of the house’s occupants – who has legal status – and then forced their way into the home. They arrested that occupant’s sister and her two children, according to Think Progress.

President Obama, though he has taken high profile steps toward providing deportation relief to individuals through his executive actions, has been called the “deporter-in-chief” by some immigration activists. During his presidency deportations have raised significantly compared to his predecessor. Those actions, since Obama hasn’t been able to usher in new immigration laws, are rooted in policies passed and signed by previous presidents.

The administration reportedly plans on continuing the deportation raids, hoping that they will discourage future waves of immigrants like was seen in 2014 when children fled Central American for fear of their lives.