‘Absolute madness’: Conservative watchdog puts ‘sanctuary’ officials on notice ahead of Trump impeachment
FIRST ON FOX: A conservative legal group is putting “sanctuary” authorities across the US on notice ahead of mass deportations expected by the incoming Trump administration.
America First Legal says it has notified nearly 250 officials in jurisdictions that limit or prohibit local law enforcement cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that there may be legal consequences for interfering with the feeding or harboring of illegal immigrants.
President-elect Trump has promised to launch a “historic” crackdown on deportations once he’s in office, and his transition team is already taking concrete steps toward that goal. The president of America First Legal is Stephen Miller, who will be the deputy chief of staff for policy in the Trump White House.
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President-elect Donald Trump speaks at AmericaFest, Sunday, December 22, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
But many Democratic officials in states including Arizona, Colorado, California and Massachusetts said they would not support the project. Trump’s border boss, Tom Homan, said there could be legal consequences for those who get in the way.
Proponents of sanctuary policies argue that local authorities cannot be forced to help the government, and that preventing ICE cooperation encourages otherwise law-abiding immigrants to cooperate with police and report crimes, making the area safer. Opponents say the policies lead to the release of criminals who would otherwise be deported back to the streets.
The AFL’s notice letter to 249 officials says the federal government has broad jurisdiction over immigration, and points to sections of federal law that prohibit state and local governments from restricting communications with DHS about immigration status, and acting to conceal, retain or protect which is illegal. from other countries is a federal crime.
The group says sanctuary policies can lead to criminal liability, and that victims of illegal immigration crimes cannot sue for damages.
“We have identified your jurisdiction as a jurisdiction that violates the law of the land. Such lawlessness puts you and your subordinates at great risk of criminal and civil liability. Therefore, we are sending this letter to inform you of this danger and insist that you obey the laws of our country,” the letter said.
The group also launched a new website that offers users a map of “sanctuary strongholds,” identifying areas with sanctuary policies and providing contact information for elected officials.
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REVERE, MA. – SEPTEMBER 25: ICE agents make an arrest on September 25, 2019 in Revere, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
The group also announced that it has filed a petition with the DOJ’s Office on Violence Against Women to request information on the citizenship status and citizenship information of those charged with multiple crimes against women and children, including domestic violence, murder and child abuse. In addition, it is subpoenaing officials, including mayors and governors, across the US for information on organizations it believes are undermining federal immigration law.
In a statement, America First Legal’s Senior Vice President, Reed D. Rubenstein, pointed to the recent arrest of an illegal immigrant in New York City in connection with the death of a woman who was burned to death as “another memorial that has been opened.” boundaries and sanctuaries are sheer madness.”
“The left-wing politicians who created and run them, and those who support them, are putting our citizens at risk, undermining our Constitution, and dangerously undermining the law. America First Legal will continue to work tirelessly to protect our immigration laws and support them. The brave men and women who are enforcing them today’s actions are the first step in the fight and lawlessness in the holy place,” said Rubenstein.
The new announcements illuminate what could be a bitter battle between the Trump administration, and its allies, and Democrats and left-wing activists over the deportation crackdown and the extent to which it can be challenged at the state and local level.
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Others have doubled down on their opposition, and the Boston City Council recently voted to limit ICE cooperation and bar police from detaining immigrants for deportation without a criminal warrant.
The resolution adopted by the council states that “the mass deportation proposals represent a direct attack on Boston’s immigrant families, and threaten to divide communities.”
Some Democratic officials, however, have indicated they are willing to work with the incoming administration. Homan met with New York City Mayor Eric Adams last week to discuss possible areas of cooperation, including the deportation of violent criminals from other countries. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also said he wants to see “violent undocumented felons convicted of violent crimes” deported, and said he would welcome a meeting with Homan.
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Fox News reported this month on new data provided to Congress that shows it exists 1.4 million non-citizens do not have deportation orders but are not currently in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
