Top Democrats on the House Judiciary and Homeland Security committees are demanding documents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding plans to send elite law enforcement units typically assigned to the southern border to take part in arrest operations in sanctuary cities across the country.

In a letter to acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad WolfChad WolfSenate to hold nomination hearing for Wolf next week Hillicon Valley: FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden | Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers Democrats slam DHS chief for defying subpoena for testimony on worldwide threats MORE on Monday, the Democratic lawmakers demanded a "full briefing" within a week as well as documents by March 2 listing details such as the cities where the specially trained officers are expected to be deployed and the duration of their assignment.

"The committees have serious concerns over the utility of engaging these highly militarized units, which were never intended for routine immigration enforcement activities, in densely populated metropolitan areas," Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler Jerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerTop Democrats call for DOJ watchdog to probe Barr over possible 2020 election influence House passes bill to protect pregnant workers House Democrats postpone vote on marijuana decriminalization bill MORE (D-N.Y.), Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson Bennie Gordon ThompsonSenate to hold nomination hearing for Wolf next week Hillicon Valley: FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden | Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers FBI director calls antifa 'a real thing' MORE (D-Miss.) and subcommittee chairwomen of the two panels, Reps. Zoe Lofgren Zoe Ellen LofgrenTop Democrats call for DOJ watchdog to probe Barr over possible 2020 election influence DHS opens probe into allegations at Georgia ICE facility House passes legislation to boost election security research MORE (D-Calif.) and Kathleen Rice Kathleen Maura RiceHillicon Valley: Simulated cyberattack success | New bill for election security funding | Amazon could be liable for defective products Lawmakers introduce bill to help election officials address cyber vulnerabilities House lawmakers to launch probe into DHS excluding NY from Trusted Traveler Program MORE (D-N.Y.), wrote in the letter.

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"Tactics such as these, which appear to be politically motivated and not grounded in national security, are unacceptable and do nothing more than punish residents and instill fear in communities," they wrote.

The letter comes days after the administration confirmed it would send 100 border patrol officers to sanctuary cities to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The New York Times reported late last week that the Trump administration is sending specially trained officers in the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) that normally are involved in high-risk and potentially violent operations at the southern border to sanctuary cities such as Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles to enhance the presence of local ICE officers.

Other cities include Atlanta, Houston, Boston, New Orleans, Detroit and Newark, N.J., according to the Times. The deployment is expected to last from February through May.

A spokesman for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told media outlets that it was sending the 100 officers to work with ICE “in order to enhance the integrity of the immigration system, protect public safety, and strengthen our national security.”

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The Democratic lawmakers expressed concern that the plan "appears to be yet another retaliatory move aimed at cities that have opted to implement immigration policies with which the administration does not agree."

They pointed to DHS announcing earlier this month that New York residents would no longer be eligible for the Global Entry and other Trusted Traveler programs in response to the state’s law permitting undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses. New York law prohibits the state from sending data to ICE and CBP.

And last year, Nadler, Thompson and then-House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings Elijah Eugene CummingsBlack GOP candidate accuses Behar of wearing black face in heated interview Overnight Health Care: US won't join global coronavirus vaccine initiative | Federal panel lays out initial priorities for COVID-19 vaccine distribution | NIH panel: 'Insufficient data' to show treatment touted by Trump works House Oversight Democrats to subpoena AbbVie in drug pricing probe MORE (D-Md.) demanded documents on the Trump administration's proposal to release detained immigrants into sanctuary cities, which tend to be in congressional districts represented by Democrats.

“Not only does the Administration lack the legal authority to transfer detainees in this manner, it is shocking that the President and senior Administration officials are even considering manipulating release decisions for purely political reasons," top Democrats wrote in a letter to Trump administration officials last April.