Flyers that have appeared all over southwest Washington DC, which proclaim the area to be a “Sanctuary City Neighborhood,” are being officially denounced as fakes.
The notices have the official U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement logo, which could fool people into thinking that they are legitimate. However, Washington DC’s Mayor Muriel Bowser has tweeted from her official account that this is not the case.
[salon_video id="14774284"]We have been alerted to flyers regarding US Immigration and Customs Enforcement – please know that these are not real. [1/3] https://t.co/fdKfmLm93v
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) June 1, 2017
We have been in contact with @DCPoliceDept and @DCDPW to have them removed. [2/3]
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) June 1, 2017
And a reminder that we respect all DC residents no matter their immigration status. Washington, DC remains a sanctuary city. #DCvalues [3/3]
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) June 1, 2017
Deputy Mayor Kevin Donohue went one step further, urging citizens to take them down themselves.
If you see these flyers in your neighborhood, please know they're not legit! Tear them down & toss them out! pic.twitter.com/lqszmRlGjj
— Deputy Mayor Lindsey Appiah (@SafeDC) June 1, 2017
Not surprisingly, ICE itself has made it clear on Twitter that these notices do not come from them.
Notices circulating in #Washington #DC are NOT from @ICEgov
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) June 1, 2017
The flyer seems written with the intent of intimidating residents of that Washington DC neighborhood into reporting anyone they suspect is an undocumented immigrant.
The author of the flyer writes that “subsection 1324(a)(1)(A)(iii) makes it an offense for any person who — knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law” to assist undocumented immigrants (which it refers to as “aliens”) in illegally residing in the United States. It also says that people who violate these laws can be incarcerated for a maximum period of five years or even 10 years for harboring, encouraging/inducing, conspiracy/aiding or abetting undocumented immigrants in this country.
Finally, the flyer encourages citizens to “report illegal aliens” to ICE and says “they will need to know names, locations (either work place or residence) and any other specific information you can provide.”
