On this Valentine’s Day, demonstrators in the East Bay say they have no love for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Protests in Oakland and Concord drew hundreds of people. Both groups say they don’t want immigration agents in their communities and they’re vowing to help immigrants in the ir neighborhoods. At Oakland’s Lake Merrit, a group of demonstrators came together to demand ICE, and other immigration related federal agencies, should stay out of their neighborhoods. Organizers of this group are also calling on the city of Oakland to dismantle its Flock camera system and stop working with that company as concerns have raised that federal agencies can tap into those surveillance networks for their immigration enforcement efforts. In December, the Oakland City Council approved a new contract with Flock with additional data sharing restrictions. In Concord, hundreds more rallied Saturday morning. At least 200 people came together for a pair of rally’s and a march. The big concern in Concord is the closing of the immigration court in San Francisco, where there were a series of high-profile clashes with protestors there last year. These organizers are concerned that many of those cases will be sent to the immigration court in Concord. “We have seen ICE there and in some of the surrounding neighborhoods as they change tactics. And it’s important for us to let them know. But really to let the community know that there are people that really want to connect them,” said Debora Ballinger with the Concord Immigrant Protections Network. This group marched through the streets of Concord with signs and banners. The intention is not just to protest, but also to organize in case more immigration agents do descend on these communities. That includes driving people to court dates if needed, feeding people who may be afraid to leave their homes and reaching out to local businesses. “A lot of businesses don’t have a plan in place in case ICE shows up. So, going around to businesses to get them started on a plan,” Ibarra said The protest also comes as DHS is currently in a budget shutdown over a fight in Congress about the department’s funding. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier says the ongoing filibuster by senate Democrats is necessary to make those immigration agencies more accountable. “Wear body cameras, no mask. Get a judicial warrant when you go in somebody’s house. Those are primarily the things we want. They refuse to do it. Well, we’re going to put it in the bill,” DeSaulnier said. Federal immigration agencies within the department of homeland security will continue to operate through the ongoing funding shutdown because of money Congress already allocated last year. ...read more read less