Controversy Surrounds Immigration Policies in New York

A New York City congressman recently faced criticism from Republicans and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after making claims about sanctuary jurisdictions and their handling of criminal illegal immigrants.

Rep. Daniel Goldman, a Democrat representing parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn, stated that such jurisdictions hand over these individuals to federal authorities after they complete their sentences. He addressed his Republican colleagues during a legislative session about a proposed bill that seeks to incorporate former President Donald Trump’s border security policies into law.

Goldman’s Assertions

Goldman challenged his Republican peers, asking them to cite instances where a convicted person, identified as removable, was not handed over to the DHS. His statement implied that sanctuary policies ensure that convicted individuals are transferred to federal authorities after serving their sentences.

However, Goldman’s remarks were met with doubt. Rep. Brad Knott from North Carolina explained that sanctuary jurisdictions vary widely and noted that in some areas of North Carolina, laws were needed to ensure cooperation with federal authorities. He mentioned cases in Fairfax County, Virginia, as evidence that sanctuary jurisdictions sometimes do not cooperate.

DHS Response

The DHS strongly disagreed with Goldman’s claims, citing thousands of cases in New York where illegal immigrants with criminal convictions were released rather than handed over to federal authorities. According to DHS, since January, 6,947 convicted individuals have been released in New York instead of being transferred to ICE, despite active detainer requests.

“The crimes of these aliens include 29 homicides, 2,509 assaults, 199 burglaries, 305 robberies, 392 dangerous drug offenses, 300 weapons offenses, and 207 sexual predatory offenses,” said Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis.

She further emphasized that politics should not overshadow public safety and pointed out that the current approach results in more crimes and victims.

Historical Context

During his response, Goldman criticized Rep. Darrell Issa for drawing parallels between modern immigration and historical practices at Ellis Island. Goldman argued that during that time, there were no immigration laws or systems like today’s to track criminal records from immigrants’ home countries. He noted that during Ellis Island’s operation, a high percentage of newcomers were allowed entry into the U.S.

“I don’t think you wanna go back to the ‘orderly process’ as you described Ellis Island,” Goldman commented.

Specific Cases Cited

DHS provided examples contradicting Goldman’s claims, noting cases of violent offenders released despite ICE requests. This included a Dominican national arrested for attempted murder released in the Bronx, only to be re-apprehended by ICE later. Another case involved a gang member with previous assault charges who was released despite a detainer request. DHS also highlighted the case of Selman Cevik, a Turkish national flagged as a known or suspected terrorist, who was released by New York despite ICE requests.