Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has requested that federal prosecutors at the Justice Department (DOJ) begin reviewing the legalities of filing criminal charges against the leaders of sanctuary cities for not complying with federal immigration authorities.
Nielsen told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that the Department of Justice “is reviewing what avenues may be available,” Fox News reported.
Acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Tom Homan told Fox News’ Neil Cavuto on January 2 that the federal government needs to start filing criminal charges against politicians who do not follow the law.
“We’ve got to start charging some of these politicians with crimes,” Homan said.
President Donald Trump has railed hard against the Democrats for wanting to protect criminal illegal aliens in sanctuary cities.
Lawrence Democratic Mayor Dan Rivera said that the threat makes him “laugh,” adding that the notion of filing criminal charges against him are “foolish” because he is a “war vet.”
Boston Democratic Mayor Martin J. Walsh said, “We are a city that values and respects immigrants, and Boston will keep standing by its immigrant community.”