For the second time in a week, federal immigration officials have been sent hunting for a criminal illegal released by the “sanctuary” of New York, and they are growing frustrated with the city.
On Monday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations announced it had arrested a man released in New York who had been deported three prior times. ICE asked that the city detain him, but let him go instead.
Last week, the agency arrested a dangerous MS-13 gang member who had also been released by the city.
“This is the case of another criminal alien, a felon, who was released back into the streets. Politics and rhetoric are not what keep the people of this great city safe,” said Thomas R. Decker, field office director for ERO New York, in a statement.
“ICE is committed to maintaining and strengthening its relationship with local law enforcement. We also welcome changes to the city’s present detainer policies in the interest of public safety and national security,” he added.
ICE, which is set to see a staffing increase under President Trump, said its target Monday was a Dominican national had been deported three times. Hector Suarez, 33, “has a criminal history in the United States which includes felony re-entry and assault and several felony and misdemeanor charges,” said ICE. He was arrested Feb. 21.
On that day, ICE announced the arrest of the MS-13 gang member on Feb. 16.
In a similar statement at the time, Decker said, “This man is by his own admission a member of a violent street gang and he was released back into the community. Honoring a detainer request is not about politics, it is about keeping New York citizens safe.”
New York has declared that it is a sanctuary city for illegal immigrants, a designation that often includes local authorities ignoring so-called “detainer” requests from ICE.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
