Here’s what happened.
A heated debate over sanctuary city policies erupted on Capitol Hill after a New York Democrat defended the way sanctuary jurisdictions handle criminal illegal immigrants. His remarks were immediately challenged by Republican lawmakers and later disputed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which says thousands of convicted illegal immigrants have been released instead of being transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The clash unfolded as lawmakers considered legislation that would permanently codify President Donald Trump’s border security executive orders into federal law, making immigration enforcement one of the day’s most contentious issues.
According to DHS, New York has released 6,947 criminally convicted illegal immigrants since January after declining ICE detainer requests. The agency argues those releases highlight the ongoing problems associated with sanctuary city policies and their impact on public safety.
Democrat Defends Sanctuary City Policies
Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.), who represents parts of Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, challenged Republican lawmakers during a committee hearing to provide evidence that sanctuary cities refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities after illegal immigrants complete prison sentences.
Goldman argued that sanctuary policies do not protect illegal immigrants who have been convicted of deportable crimes. Instead, he maintained that once offenders finish serving their sentences, they are typically transferred to DHS for immigration proceedings.
He challenged Republicans to identify examples proving otherwise, suggesting there were few, if any, cases that contradicted his position.
Republicans Push Back Immediately
Republican lawmakers wasted little time disputing Goldman’s claims.
Rep. Brad Knott (R-N.C.), a former federal prosecutor, said he personally handled cases involving sanctuary jurisdictions that declined to honor ICE detainer requests.
Knott explained that sanctuary policies vary widely across the country, but said some jurisdictions have repeatedly refused to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. He noted that North Carolina lawmakers eventually passed legislation limiting local discretion after concerns about cooperation with ICE.
He also pointed to recent incidents in Fairfax County, Virginia, as additional examples of sanctuary jurisdictions releasing illegal immigrants despite federal requests to hold them.
DHS Says Thousands Were Released
The Department of Homeland Security also forcefully rejected Goldman’s comments, releasing statistics it says demonstrate the real-world consequences of sanctuary city policies.
According to DHS, New York authorities have declined ICE detainer requests that resulted in the release of 6,947 criminally convicted illegal immigrants since January instead of transferring them to federal custody.
The department said those individuals had been convicted of numerous serious crimes, including:
- 29 homicide offenses
- 2,509 assault offenses
- 199 burglary offenses
- 305 robbery offenses
- 392 dangerous drug offenses
- 300 weapons offenses
- 207 sexual predator offenses
Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis also said approximately 7,000 illegal immigrants in New York were subject to active ICE detainer requests as of last winter.
Bis argued that refusing to honor detainer requests places politics ahead of public safety and increases the risk that dangerous offenders will return to American communities instead of entering federal custody for removal proceedings.
Debate Over Ellis Island
Goldman also criticized comparisons between today’s immigration system and Ellis Island, arguing that the historical immigration process looked very different from modern enforcement policies.
He noted that his own grandmother entered the United States through Ellis Island during a time when today’s immigration databases and criminal background checks did not exist.
Goldman also said immigrants diagnosed with illnesses such as tuberculosis were often treated before completing the immigration process and noted that approximately 98% of immigrants processed through Ellis Island were ultimately admitted into the United States.
Because of those differences, he argued that Ellis Island should not be viewed as a model for today’s immigration system.
DHS Points to Specific Cases
To support its position, DHS highlighted several cases it says directly contradict Goldman’s assertion that sanctuary jurisdictions routinely cooperate with ICE.
Among them was a Dominican national arrested on an attempted murder charge who New York City authorities released despite an ICE detainer. Federal immigration agents later located and arrested him.
The department also cited the case of an alleged Crips gang member with a previous assault conviction who was arrested on a weapons charge but released even after ICE requested that he be held.
Another example involved Turkish national Selman Cevik, whom DHS identified as appearing on the government’s Known or Suspected Terrorist watchlist. According to the agency, New York City released Cevik following his arrest on a first-degree menacing charge despite an ICE detainer. Federal agents later tracked him down and took him into custody.
Immigration Remains a Top Political Issue
The exchange highlights the deep divide over sanctuary city policies, illegal immigration, and border security as Congress debates legislation tied to President Trump’s immigration agenda.
Supporters of sanctuary policies argue they help build trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement by limiting local involvement in federal immigration enforcement. Critics argue that refusing to honor ICE detainer requests allows criminal illegal immigrants to return to American communities instead of entering federal custody for deportation proceedings.
With immigration expected to remain one of the defining issues heading into the next election cycle, the battle over sanctuary cities is unlikely to fade anytime soon. As lawmakers continue debating President Trump’s border security proposals, the disagreement over cooperation between local governments and federal immigration authorities is expected to remain front and center in Washington.
