The letter stated it is "critical" for Thomas Homan to meet with the caucus members to discuss the impact of the raids. | AP Photo Hispanic Caucus leaders ask to meet with ICE director over raids

Leaders of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus are demanding to meet with Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Thomas Homan following recent raids that led to the arrest of hundreds of undocumented immigrants.

"These raids have struck fear in the hearts of the immigrant community as many fear that President Trump’s promised “deportation force” is now in full-swing," the letter, sent Friday, states.


Department of Homeland Security officials have called the actions "routine," following the ramping up of raids in the wake of President Donald Trump's Jan. 25 order to crack down on illegal immigration.

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.), along with Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), John Conyers (D-Mich.), Luis Gutierrez (D-Illinois), Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) signed the letter.

The letter also stated it is "critical" for Homan to meet with the caucus members "immediately to discuss the impact these raids have had on our communities as well as obtain clarifying guidance on how ICE policies will differ from the last Administration."

"It is critical that our constituents have clarity on ICE operations and we request a copy of this memo," the letter states. "Without this guidance, our communities will be paralyzed as students will remain home from school, parents will be afraid to leave children alone and our local economies will be irreparably damaged."

The caucus also requested information about the operations, such as "location of the raids, the number of individuals detained and deported, the number of parents of minor children that were apprehended, the reason for the apprehension as well as the number of people apprehended with criminal convictions and the types of criminal convictions."