Feinstein slams Trump for ‘hateful deportation program’ after Oakland family denied reprieve

The California Democrat visited the family last week after reading a front-page Chronicle story about Maria Mendoza-Sanchez and Eusebio Sanchez, who plan to depart for their native Mexico late Wednesday with their 12-year-old son to start a new life, while leaving behind three daughters aged 16, 21 and 23 who have legal status.

“This is a travesty, plain and simple, and evidence that Donald Trump’s immigration policy is nothing more than a hateful deportation program targeting law-abiding families,” Feinstein said in a statement.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, defended the deportation order last week, saying the family’s case had gone through a lengthy review in immigration courts and, “neither of these individuals has a legal basis to remain in the U.S.”

Feinstein said the deportation of two people with deep ties to the country and no criminal record was a clear message about the administration’s immigration policy.

By deporting Maria and Eusebio Sanchez,” she said, “the administration admits it will refuse to distinguish between criminals and families, proving once and for all that all undocumented individuals and families are priorities for deportation.