On Wednesday, June 6, Philadelphia Mayor James Kenney danced a celebratory jig after a federal district court ruled the federal government cannot eliminate grants to the “sanctuary city” when it refuses to hand over dangerous criminal illegal aliens in its custody to federal immigration officials. If not Kenney, then surely the city’s judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officials will rue that day when its policies lead to the death of innocents as Denver’s sanctuary city policies did in early 2017.
In October 2016, Ever Valles was arrested for car theft and other charges. When the U.S. Department of Homeland Security learned of his arrest, it asked Denver to be told of any pending release because he is “an immigration enforcement priority” due to his “criminal history” and because he is a “citizen of Mexico,” a “known gang member,” and suspected of entering the country illegally. DHS “request[ed]” Denver “notify DHS as early as practicable (at least 48 hours, if possible) before the alien is released,” and “maintain custody of the alien for a period NOT TO EXCEED 48 HOURS beyond the time when he/she would otherwise have been released … to allow DHS to assume custody.”
