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New Department of Homeland Security Deportation Guidelines Trigger Protest in Bay Area

Hundreds of immigrant advocates took to the streets in Alameda County Tuesday after the Department of Homeland Security released sweeping new deportation guidelines.

The Department of Homeland Security plans to ramp up deportations, including hiring 10,000 new immigration agents and directing them to arrest any undocumented immigrants they encounter.

The new guidelines has sparked more fear and uncertainty in the immigrant community. Local immigration advocates said they will protect undocumented immigrants. Advocates are also calling on the Alameda County Sheriff not to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern said his office is not in the deportation business and its policy makes that clear. Ahern said ICE has not walked through his office's doors a single time this year.

"Our policy does include one line that indicates we can notify ICE if a person is released or going to be released," Ahern said. "But that's in extreme cases if somebody wanted for murder, or rape, or robbery."

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