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U.S. NEWS Monday 20 January 2020

ICE ups ante in standoff with NYC: 'This is not a request'

By JIM MUSTIAN
NEW YORK (AP) — Federal
authorities are turning to a
new tactic in the escalat-
ing conflict over New York
City's so-called sanctuary
policies, issuing four "immi-
gration subpoenas" to the
city for information about
inmates wanted for depor-
tation.
"This is not a request — it's a
demand," Henry Lucero, a
senior U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement of-
ficial, told The Associated
Press. "This is a last resort for
us. Dangerous criminals are
being released every single
day in New York."
Mayor Bill de Blasio's ad-
ministration said Saturday
the city would review the
subpoenas.
"New York City will not
change the policies that
have made us the saf-
est big city in America,"
spokeswoman Freddi Gold- Matthew Albence, right, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, speaks during a news conference, Fri-
stein said in an email. day, Jan. 17, 2020, in New York.
The development comes Associated Press
days after ICE sent simi-
lar subpoenas to the city ria Fuertas, a 92-year-old nas were issued on Friday, immigration enforcement consult with federal pros-
of Denver, a move that Queens woman. the acting ICE director, that have driven crime to ecutors to obtain a court
reflected the agency's That case became a flash- Matthew Albence, told a record lows." order compelling the city's
mounting frustration with point in the conflict after news conference in Man- City officials in Denver said compliance. "A judge can
jurisdictions that do not ICE officials said the city hattan that city leaders they would not comply hold them in contempt," he
honor deportation "detain- had released the woman's had blood on their hands in with the requests, saying told The AP.
ers" or provide any details alleged attacker, Reeaz Fuertas' death. the subpoenas could be Meanwhile, ICE is consid-
about defendants going in Khan, 21, on earlier assault "It is this city's sanctuary poli- "viewed as an effort to in- ering expanding its use of
and out of local custody. charges rather than turn cies that are the sole reason timidate officers into help immigration subpoenas in
The subpoenas sent to him over for deportation. this criminal was allowed to enforcing civil immigration other sanctuary jurisdic-
New York seek information Khan was charged with roam the streets freely and law." tions.
about three inmates — in- murder Jan. 10 and remains end an innocent woman's "The documents appear to "Like any law enforcement
cluding a man wanted for in custody. life," Albence said. be a request for informa- agency, we are used to
homicide in El Salvador New York City police say Goldstein said in an email tion related to alleged vio- modifying our tactics as
— who were recently re- they didn't receive a de- Saturday that "the Trump lations of civil immigration criminals shift their strate-
leased despite immigration tainer request for Khan, administration's attempt to law," Chad Sublet, Senior gies," Lucero said in a state-
officials requesting the city though ICE insists it was exploit this tragedy are ab- Counsel to the Department ment. "But it's dishearten-
turn them over for deporta- sent. Either way, the city solutely shameful." of Safety in Denver, wrote ing that we must change
tion. would not have turned him De Blasio has accused ICE in a letter to ICE officials. our practices and jump
The fourth subpoena asks over under the terms of of employing "scare tac- But Lucero, ICE's acting through so many hoops
for information about a New York's local ordinance tics" and spreading lies. He deputy executive associ- with partners who are re-
Guyanese man charged governing how police work said on Twitter this week ate director for enforce- stricted by sanctuary laws
this month with sexually with immigration officials. that the city has passed ment and removal opera- passed by politicians with a
assaulting and killing Ma- Hours before the subpoe- "common-sense laws about tions, said the agency may dangerous agenda."q