New York Officials Respond to Allegations of Charge Downgrading for Noncitizens

Three leading officials in New York were taken aback on Thursday when questioned about a report by the House Judiciary Committee. The report accuses local prosecutors of reducing charges for noncitizens to shield them from deportation.

At a press event in Manhattan, Attorney General Letitia James, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez faced inquiries about whether city prosecutors modified charges to prevent noncitizens from receiving convictions that could lead to deportation.

Did any of you order prosecutors to downgrade gun charges to keep illegal immigrants in the U.S., as per the Judiciary Committee report? a reporter inquired.

The New York Post noted that Katz responded by throwing her hands up and shrugging. Katz commented, “Our answer couldn’t help it,” before the meeting shifted to other topics.

A spokesperson for Katz’s office later told Fox News Digital that they always charge any defendant with an illegal firearm with the highest charge allowed by law.

The news conference unfolded just after a 22-page congressional report was released. This document details the practices within New York City prosecutor offices.

According to the report, Katz’s office employs an “Immigration Specialist” to negotiate plea deals that are safe from immigration consequences and to lower past convictions. DOJ investigations have been initiated against other district attorneys accused of protecting illegal immigrants from repercussions.

The document references a 2022 memo from Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, advising prosecutors to seek resolutions that avoid deportation consequences for misdemeanors and non-carceral felonies.

The report also states that the Bronx DA office, led by Darcel Clark, trains prosecutors in “Immigration-Conscious Plea Bargaining.” This involves offering non-deportable offenses and steering clear of charges that could lead to deportation, such as aggravated felonies.

Prosecutors were allegedly guided to omit crucial information from official conviction records, such as firearm involvement or the ages of minor victims, to prevent immigration authorities from using these details for deportation proceedings.

After the press event, Katz’s representative reiterated that leniency is not shown in weapons cases, stating, “We charge any defendant with an illegal firearm with the highest possible charge under the law.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the other four district attorneys’ offices in New York City for comments.