United States: The U.S. Justice Department started an investigation into the Upstate New York sheriff’s office’s release of an undocumented immigrant as per their first move under their newly established policy targeting local agencies that oppose President Donald Trump’s immigration directives, as reported by Reuters.
Federal prosecutors now have the authority to start criminal probes of state authority members who conflict with immigration enforcement practices of the federal government in sanctuary cities.
Incident in Ithaca Sparks Federal Action
The occurrence in Ithaca, New York, happened on Wednesday when Mexican national Jesus Romero-Hernandez turned 27 years old while detained for assault charges in the progressive Finger Lakes-based city.
Federal prosecutors revealed that the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office disregarded an existing federal arrest warrant for illegal U.S. reentry from Romero-Hernandez after prior removal.
Law enforcement officials from the federal division captured Romero-Hernandez after his initial detention on the immigration offense.
US probes release of arrested immigrant in first challenge to sanctuary cities – https://t.co/6nvZtcBVAl
— Sarah N. Lynch (@SarahNLynch) January 31, 2025
Justice Department Pledges Investigation
“Yesterday, despite the warrant, a defendant with no legal status and a history of violence was released into the community,” Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove said in a statement.
According to Bove, he was pleased that the local U.S. attorney’s office had pledged “to investigate these circumstances for potential prosecution.”
Local Authorities Respond
The police force in Ithaca claimed to have complied with “all relevant city policies” and “did not participate in any immigration enforcement activities.”
The declaration failed to respond to the situation which the Justice Department had highlighted.
Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office representatives failed to provide an immediate response when contacted.
Broader Crackdown on Sanctuary Cities
Bove recently sent a collective message to all federal prosecutors encouraging them to initiate investigations targeting officials who prevent federal authorities from enforcing immigration standards.
Bove attended a law enforcement operation in Chicago which brought together Department of Homeland Security agents alongside agents from various Justice Department components on a Sunday.
The Justice Department official confirmed to Reuters that sanctuary city investigations were among the reasons Bove spent time with Department of Homeland Security and Justice Department immigrant enforcement officials.
The Justice Department transferred more than a dozen veteran career attorneys to a newly formed sanctuary cities working group, although they normally stayed in their positions no matter what party controlled the White House, as reported by Reuters.
Most of the Justice Department staff reassigned to new positions lack qualifications in immigration law.
The departmental official mentioned that the focus will be on identifying laws restricting federal enforcement capabilities, gathering field evidence, and evaluating funding programs for sanctuary city functions.