[ April 24, 2024 ]
“Let us state the reality upfront and as clearly as possible,” Barr began. “When we are talking about sanctuary cities, we are talking about policies that are designed to allow criminal aliens to escape. These policies are not about people who came to our country illegally but have otherwise been peaceful and productive members of society. Their express purpose is to shelter aliens whom local law enforcement has already arrested for other crimes. This is neither lawful nor sensible.”
Barr announces sweeping new sanctions, ‘significant escalation’ against left-wing sanctuary cities
By GreGg Re, Fox News, February 11, 2020:
Charging that so-called “sanctuary” cities that protect illegal immigrants are jeopardizing domestic security, Attorney General Bill Barr announced a slew of additional sanctions that he called a “significant escalation” against left-wing local and state governments that obstruct the “lawful functioning of our nation’s immigration system.”
Speaking at the National Sheriff’s Association 2020 Winter Legislative and Technology Conference in Washington, D.C., Barr said the Justice Department would immediately file multiple lawsuits against sanctuary jurisdictions for unconstitutionally interfering with federal immigration enforcement, and implement unprecedented national reviews of left-wing sanctuary governments and prosecutors.
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“Let us state the reality upfront and as clearly as possible,” Barr began. “When we are talking about sanctuary cities, we are talking about policies that are designed to allow criminal aliens to escape. These policies are not about people who came to our country illegally but have otherwise been peaceful and productive members of society. Their express purpose is to shelter aliens whom local law enforcement has already arrested for other crimes. This is neither lawful nor sensible.”
The DOJ has now filed a federal complaint against the State of New Jersey seeking declaratory and injunctive relief “against its laws that forbid state and local law enforcement from sharing vital information about criminal aliens with DHS,” Barr said.
That was a reference to New Jersey Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive 2018-6, which the DOJ says illegally bars officials from sharing the immigration status and release dates of individuals in custody. It also requires New Jersey law enforcement to “promptly notify a detained individual, in writing and in a language the individual can understand” if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) files an immigration detainer request for the individual.
Additionally, “we are filing a complaint seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against King County, Washington, for the policy … that forbids DHS from deporting aliens from the United States using King County International Airport,” Barr said.
That lawsuit targets King County Executive Order PFC-7-1-EO, which the DOJ said has dramatically increased operating costs for ICE as detainees have had to be transported to Yakima, Washington. The executive order unconstitutionally conflicts with the federal Airline Deregulation Act, which “prohibits localities such as King County from enacting or enforcing laws or regulations that relate to prices, routes, or services of air carriers,” the DOJ said.
“Further, we are reviewing the practices, policies, and laws of other jurisdictions across the country. This includes assessing whether jurisdictions are complying with our criminal laws, in particular the criminal statute that prohibits the harboring or shielding of aliens in the United States,” Barr added, noting that the DOJ would support DHS with “federal subpoenas to access information about criminal aliens in the custody of uncooperative jurisdictions.”
And, Barr said, “we are meticulously reviewing the actions of certain district attorneys who have adopted policies of charging foreign nationals with lesser offenses for the express purpose of avoiding the federal immigration consequences of those nationals’ criminal conduct. In pursuing their personal ambitions and misguided notions of equal justice, these district attorneys are systematically violating the rule of law and may even be unlawfully discriminating against American citizens.”
Prosecutors in New York and California have changed their policies so that prosecutors explicitly consider so-called “collateral consequences,” including deportation, before pursuing certain charges.
Homeland Security reviewing two administration immigration programs looking to expedite deportation
Sanctuary cities, Barr said, are defined as those with policies that allow “criminal aliens to escape” federal law enforcement — and some jurisdictions are becoming “more aggressive” in undermining immigration authorities, with local politicians even developing “schemes” to circumvent immigration officials.
In 2018, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf blew the whistle on an imminent raid by federal immigration authorities, tweeting out a warning to illegal immigrants in advance and helping them hide.
As the president did during last week’s State of the Union address, the attorney general cited several instances in which illegal immigrants were able to commit deadly crimes because they were sheltered by left-wing sanctuaries.
“In November, ICE filed a detainer for an alien who was arrested for assaulting his own father,” Barr said. “The local police in New York City that had the alien in custody ignored the detainer. So the alien was released onto the streets, and last month, he allegedly raped and killed 92-year-old Maria Fuertes, affectionately known as ‘abuelita,’ a fixture of her Queens neighborhood.”
In October 2017, DHS “identified a convicted criminal alien with four prior removals at a city jail in Washington State,” Barr continued. “DHS filed a detainer. Subsequently, the alien fought with jail staff and was taken to a local medical center for treatment. But after receiving treatment, local officials released the alien in violation of the detainer. In January 2018, the alien was arrested and booked for murdering and dismembering his cousin.”
While the Constitution entrusts the police power to the states and does not require states to affirmatively assist federal authorities in implementing and enforcing immigration law, Barr said, it does clearly prohibit the states from actively sabotaging federal immigration officials.
“The Founding Fathers carefully divided responsibility and power between the federal government and the state governments,” Barr said. The ‘Supremacy Clause’ in Article VI of the Constitution provides that the ‘Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof… shall be the supreme law of the land.'”
He added: “This Clause is a vital part of our constitutional order. Enforcing a country’s immigration laws is an essential function of the national government. And no national government can enforce those laws properly if state and local governments are getting in the way. While federal law does not require that ‘sanctuary jurisdictions’ actively assist with federal immigration enforcement, it does prohibit them from interfering with our enforcement efforts.”
Barr emphasized that there is no way to determine how many “criminal aliens” are in the U.S., in part because of “local policies,” although recent estimates under the Obama administration put the number as high as 2 million.
“Assuming that estimate was accurate, the numbers are likely even higher today despite the Trump Administration’s consistent and concerted efforts to find and deport this criminal population,” Barr said.
It is the “rule of law that is fundamental to ensuring both freedom and security,” Barr asserted, saying law enforcement officers are increasingly under fire in “heinous” attacks that “come against the backdrop of cynicism and disrespect for law enforcement.”
Barr touted the DOJ’s lawsuit against California and other states over their sanctuary policies. The suit over California involves the law prohibiting the federal government from conducting operations in its own affiliated private immigration facilities and detention centers.
The law, Barr said, was a “blatant attempt by the State to prohibit DHS from detaining aliens, and to interfere with the ability of the Bureau of Prisons and the U.S. Marshals Service to manage federal detainees and prisoners.”
“Today is a significant escalation in the federal government’s efforts to confront the resistance of ‘sanctuary cities.'”
— Attorney General Bill Barr“The department sued the State of California to enjoin numerous state laws that attempted to frustrate federal immigration enforcement,” Barr said. “We prevailed on several of our claims in the lower courts, and we are hopeful that the Supreme Court will grant our request to review the remaining issues and side with us against California’s obstructionist policies.”
He concluded, “Today is a significant escalation in the federal government’s efforts to confront the resistance of ‘sanctuary cities.’ But by no means do the efforts outlined above signify the culmination of our fight to ensure the rule of law, to defend the Constitution, and to keep Americans safe. We will consider taking action against any jurisdiction that, or any politician who, unlawfully obstructs the federal enforcement of immigration law.”
Barr’s new sanctions come as the Trump administration has already announced other initiatives targeting illegal immigration in the wake of the president’s State of the Union address last week.
Last week, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf exclusively told Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight” that DHS was immediately suspending enrollment in Global Entry and several other Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) for all New York state residents — a dramatic move in response to the liberal state’s recently enacted sanctuary “Green Light Law.”
Only 10 out of 7,526 ICE detainer requests went answered in NYC in 2019VideoBarr slammed the law in his speech Monday, calling it “unlawful.”
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations Todd Owen later told Fox News that up to 800,000 New Yorkers could be affected by the rule change within the next five years. Owen said people with pending Global Entry applications would be refunded, and that those with active applications would not be affected until their renewal date.
Illegal immigrants rushed to New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) in large numbers after the “Green Light Law,” which allowed them to obtain driver’s licenses or learner’s permits regardless of their immigration status, took effect last December. The law also permitted applicants to use foreign documents, including passports, to be submitted in order to obtain licenses.
In a letter to top New York state officials obtained exclusively by Fox News, Wolf noted that the New York law prohibited DMV agencies across the state from sharing criminal records with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and ICE.
“In New York alone, last year ICE arrested 149 child predators, identified or rescued 105 victims of exploitation and human trafficking, arrested 230 gang members, and seized 6,487 pounds of illegal narcotics, including fentanyl and opioids,” Wolf wrote to New York officials. “In the vast majority of these cases, ICE relied on New York DMV records to fulfill its mission.”
The “Green Light Law,” Wolf went on, “compromises CBP’s ability to confirm whether an individual applying for TTP membership meets program eligibility requirements.”
“This Act and the corresponding lack of security cooperation from the New York DMV requires DHS to take immediate action to ensure DHS’ s efforts to protect the Homeland are not compromised,” he said.
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29 Comments
4 years ago
If we lose on immigration, we lose our country.
All people here ILLEGALLY need to be deported not just those who committed ADDITIONAL crimes. Being here ILLEGALLY is a CRIME too!
4 years ago
Reply to
felix1999
Amen, Felix, like you, and numerous others, I am tired of the devious semantics used by those of the Leftist/Democrat scourge. The term ‘illegal’ is avoided by the Leftists and Democratic Party, more or less, to muddy the waters by their devious making and agenda. The latter of which is to justify and blur the illegality in which they partake. As stated, all migrants here illegally must face deportation, not merely the copious criminal element in the mix.
The Democrats ploy has always been, thus, to undermine the Republics’ security, Constitutional law, and, more so, to bolster the illegal vote. It is they who are the overseers, manipulators of this voting plot. I, for one, cannot discern the issue when it comes to a person voting, one’s proof of citizenship, residency in one’s voting district.
I realize, also, that there may be Republicans who are of a similar mindset.
That said, the base of this illegal immigration scam is the Democrats. These sanctuary cities are entirely responsible for protecting these so-called migrants, in fact, Illegals, whether criminals or solely illegals, and must face hardcore sanctions for their weighted lawlessness. Hopefully, A.G. Barr’s message and further hard-line sanctions will weigh heavily on this anti-American, anti-Constitutional, Leftists, the faux-Democratic Party. I, however, hold little positivity that it will have the cause and effect Parr anticipates. Hopefully, these sanctions, when enacted, will cause these treasonous cities and Party to their knees.
4 years ago
Reply to
felix1999
Exactly. The Left couldn’t care less about any of us. They are committed totally to destroying our cultural and national identity, destroying who and what we are.
4 years ago
Reply to
Patriotic American
Agree. Even Liberal loon Clooney the Loony had to admit Trump was
Correct and he was wrong http://offtrade.net/cnmnews/cloony-admits-trump-was-right/
LOL !
As long as they don’t have to pay the price for their loonism, they will shill for it !
4 years ago
And yet Cumo was elected governor, and deBlasio mayor.
You can fool some of the people some of the time but it seems that you can fool a New York resident all of the time.
4 years ago
Reply to
stephen5970
New York and others like it are islands of evil. They are not like general populations of nation loving and law respecting Americans. They are degenerate and should be punished as such and made to comply with the same laws we as a nation agree to!
4 years ago
About time! But let’s all wait and se if these acts have thorns attached. Money is the only way to hurt such cities
4 years ago
Personally, this is EXCELLENT news here in Boston, which has been a sanctuary city, along with others in Massachusetts. Boston even has….the “Trust Act”, which is in and of itself THE declaration and celebration of providing sanctuary to ILLEGAL ALIENS.
And the announcement comes just in time, as the state legislature is considering a bill to make MA a sanctuary STATE, which I am 1000% positive our RINO governor, Charlie Baker–rhymes with FAKER–will happily sign into law. This state is, and has been, an EMBARRASSMENT.
But this looks like a definite step in the right direction, along with our senior senator Fake Indian Warren (D-Oklahoma) getting less than 10% of the primary vote in finishing FOURTH in neighboring NH, and our former governor Deval (Devil) Patrick getting LESS THAN 1% in NH.
Thank you, POTUS Trump. The good news just keeps coming. TRUMP 2020….MAGA/KAG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4 years ago
Reply to
ed
Well Baker has followed fully within the footsteps of of that traitor, Romney, we know how that one worked out!
4 years ago
The surviving members of the late Kate Steinle must be in a celebcelebr mood.
And such fiascoes as Fast & Furious are political pigs that won’t fly anymore.
4 years ago
If an illegal alien is just an undocumented immigrant than why isn’t a drug dealer just considered an undocumented pharmacist?
4 years ago
Reply to
MuhamMUDTheFakeProphet
Well I think they are. Or at least the issue is handled as such in many jurisdictions.
4 years ago
Finally an admin with AG Barr stepping up to put a stop to the unlawful dem party who breaks our laws every single day and spit in our faces by ignoring any law they don’t agree with.
Vote all Dems out, don’t put any new ones in power. Now they’re seeking OPEN BORDERS.
Seeking to destroy our Republic is clearly their goal in November, on numerous issues. They ignore their oaths. Out with the lawless.
4 years ago
Reply to
Linda
…lawsuits? ………….is not stepping up. It is laughably weak.
Barr said it is ‘unlawful’ and ‘unconstitutional.’
So, why is arresting the criminal Seditious city and State leaders NOT an option?
4 years ago
Reply to
Linda
make sure you get accused wife beater muslim general from MN in the sweep.. Mohammed Ellision beqats women!
https://www.npr.org/2018/08/13/638199556/congressman-accused-of-domestic-abuse-by-former-girlfriend
4 years ago
Start with Botox Pelosi’s, SF sh*hole. I do not hold out much hope.
4 years ago
The quickest method of shutting down these so-called sanctuaries is to make the politicians and officials who pass and enforce these laws or regulations personally responsible for the damages that are caused by the illegals they are aiding and abetting.A similar law in Texas has made it very difficult for liberal politicians to operate this scam.
4 years ago
It’s about damned time!
4 years ago
Reply to
teachersaide
3 years late and no arrests.
The planned weak lawsuits will take years and leave the illegals untouched.
Arrest the criminal Seditious city and State leaders …NOW.
4 years ago
Hold on to your six, Barr might actually do something, does he really think we are impressed. Do something about the criminals in the Democratic party like Federal Prison then we might think you really care and to refresh your memory, I’m referring to the obvious of course there was and still is Pizza Gate. Wake up: We don’t forget, we are the ones that voted Donald J. Trump into office, those other morons that called themselves Presidents, we never voted for.
4 years ago
I do not understand how the libs can stand behind illegal aliens `THAT COMMIT OTHER VIOLENT CRIMES! (Besides the fact that they are totally bat-shit crazy!) Freeing a criminal that has already been arrested six other times, only to commit murder is a losing proposition. There are thousands of examples of illegals being arrested numerous times and go on to commit other violent crimes after they are released because of sanctuary city or state policies. It will be one of the things that will lead to their downfall.
When a demorat loses an election, they never ask what they did wrong. They always blame the system and/or the voters. Recent example: the Iowa disaster. They tried to screw with the process, mucked it up and are now saying that the Iowa caucus should be eliminated.
4 years ago
This is an issue that should long ago have been addressed by this President. So called amnesty cities/states are in criminal violation of our laws. They must be stopped and they must be penalized. It must be against the law and the law must be enforced to discourage criminal activity, and that includes rogue priest and ministers and those cloaked as such.
4 years ago
Reply to
Don39
Gee, if I broke a Federal law would I be,
a. Sued?
b. Arrested?
Trump and Barr’s plan is laughably weak.
I bet that idea came from the US Chamber Of Commerce.
Their plan, delay, find a new reason, delay again.
4 years ago
Reply to
CharlieSeattle
You make no sense. The Chamber loves sanctuary cities and opposes any obstacles to cheap and unfair labor. What happens if you break federal law, that depends on what law and who it offends if the left is in control. Trump may actually put some teeth in federal law.
4 years ago
they don’t believe the FEDs will do anything…. Until some of these racists start going to jail, its just smoke!
