OAKLAND — The city is preparing to defend its employees against criminal charges if they are accused of obstructing federal immigration authorities or National Guard troops deployed by the Trump administration.

In new legislation, Oakland’s leaders may grant the city’s top public attorney rare power to represent city workers in criminal cases without needing the City Council’s approval.

President Donald Trump has mentioned both Oakland and San Francisco among potential target cities with crime problems where he would send troops, having already ordered the National Guard in recent months to Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tenn., while making formal threats to Chicago and Portland, Oregon.

The president has not yet announced any official plans to send the guard to the Bay Are

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