The acting head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday demanded that sanctuary cities help law enforcement crack down on gang activity.
“Sanctuary cities are criminals’ biggest friends,” Tom Homan said from the White House ahead of the daily press briefing. “Sanctuary cities need to help us keep the community safe. [They] endanger public safety, they endanger my law enforcement officers.”
Homan and Principle Deputy Attorney General Robert Hur outlined the government’s crackdown on gang activity, in particular activities by the MS-13 gang, and their efforts to discourage sanctuary cities.
Simultaneously, the Justice Department announced that Salvadoran prosecutors charged 113 MS-13 gang members in El Salvador. Another 593 gang members were charged yesterday, many of whom are MS-13 members.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is currently in El Salvador following action taken by the Justice Department against sanctuary cities. In his announcement Tuesday, Sessions said cities that prevent ICE agents from entering prisons and jails will be subject to losing large amounts of federal funds known as Edward Bryne Memorial Justice Assistance (JAG) Grants.
Homan and Hur were at the White House amid tension between Sessions and President Trump. The president has said he is disappointed in Sessions for recusing himself from the Russia investigation, and rumors have swirled that Trump will soon fire Sessions.
Sessions has made it clear he will remain at the Justice Department, and told the Associated Press in El Salvador that he will “continue to serve” as long as Trump wants him to.
“I serve at the pleasure of the president. I’ve understood that from the day I took the job,” Sessions said, acknowledging that Trump can fire and replace him.
Homan said that the tensions are not affecting the work they do.
“The attorney general is the strongest supporter of law enforcement … I can tell you nothing is going to change the way we do our business,” Homan said.
Homan also addressed the argument that illegal immigrants have become more hesitant to talk to law enforcement about crime for a fear of being taken into custody themselves, and said ICE is “not out looking for victims and witnesses.”
“They should feel safe and go report criminal activity,” he said. “Gang members walk out of county jails in sanctuary cities every day.”
Homan said he will join Trump in Suffolk County, N,Y., on Friday to discuss the MS-13 gang and sanctuary cities. Sessions was there in April, where he issued a warning: “If you are a gang member, know this — we will find you.”
During the news conference, Trump tweeted praise for “progress” being made against MS-13 — but did not mention Sessions or the Justice Department’s work.
Big progress being made in ridding our country of MS-13 gang members and gang members in general. MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 27, 2017
