In a heated debate over immigration policy, sanctuary cities across the United States have released thousands of migrants, bypassing federal detention requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Since President Joe Biden's inauguration, sanctuary jurisdictions have released over 22,000 criminal migrants by not adhering to ICE detainer requests, raising concerns about potential safety risks and policy implications, as the Daily Caller reports.
ICE issues detainer requests to local law enforcement to hold non-citizens suspected of being in the United States unlawfully. These requests allow ICE agents time to arrange for their apprehension. However, laws in sanctuary jurisdictions frequently prevent compliance with such requests, resulting in the release of detained individuals back into local communities.
New data reveals a steady increase in the number of declined ICE detainers during Biden's presidency. The numbers speak to a rising trend: 2,512 declinations in fiscal year 2021, increasing to 5,723 in fiscal year 2022, 7,934 in fiscal year 2023, and 5,871 reported in fiscal year 2024 up to mid-July. The cumulative effect has been the release of more than 22,000 criminal migrants.
The number of detainers declined might be an underestimation of the total individuals affected. Local policies sometimes lead to the release of detainees before ICE has the opportunity to file a detainer request, further complicating the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
With an estimated 17 million undocumented migrants in the country as of June 2023, ICE has been filing approximately 10,000 detention requests monthly since early 2023. These figures underscore the magnitude of the issue within the broader immigration policy debate.
President-elect Donald Trump has expressed intentions to curtail the power of sanctuary cities by potentially cutting federal funding. This position has spurred reactions from several city leaders who oppose such measures.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have voiced their stance against the influence of federal policies on immigration practices in their cities. Mayor Wu has stated unequivocally that Boston's police force will not be a part of the president-elect's plans for deportations.
Similarly, Mayor Johnson has vowed resistance against any upcoming actions taken by the federal government to enforce stricter immigration laws. Current sanctuary city policies remain a poignant issue as the new administration prepares to take office.
In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass is taking proactive steps to strengthen sanctuary policies. Before President-elect Trump assumes office, she is working to pass legislation that reinforces sanctuary laws in her city.
These actions from city officials indicate an ongoing commitment to protecting sanctuary policies in prominent urban areas, signaling potential legal and political battles in the months ahead. Their efforts highlight the deep divisions between local governance and federal immigration directives.
As the new administration prepares to take action, the conflict between federal and local priorities regarding immigration and public safety policies remains unresolved. Both sides of the debate continue to grapple with the complexities of enforcement and humanitarian concerns.
The release of tens of thousands of migrants by sanctuary jurisdictions across the United States, despite detainer requests from ICE, exemplifies a broader national discourse on immigration and public safety. The policies of sanctuary cities, coupled with federal intentions to enforce stricter immigration laws, place leaders like Michelle Wu, Brandon Johnson, and Karen Bass at the forefront of this contentious issue. As President-elect Trump's administration takes shape, the divide between federal and local immigration policy is expected to persist, setting the stage for continued debate and negotiation.
