Investigation Launched into NYC Officials Over Immigration Policies
WASHINGTON – The House Judiciary Committee has initiated an investigation into seven employees from New York City, alleging that they “refused to cooperate” with the immigration policies of the Trump administration, which are linked to the city’s “sanctuary” policy.
Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan and Subcommittee Chairman Tom McClintock reached out to all five district attorneys in New York City, including Manhattan’s Alvin Bragg Jr., as well as NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and Corrections Commissioner Stanley Richards. They requested records pertaining to enforcement actions.
Republican lawmakers have accused city officials of favoring “criminals and illegal aliens over American citizens,” which they argue poses a risk to public safety.
“From July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025, NYCDOC has been honored. Less than 4% of detainees ICE filed a complaint about during that period,” they stated in a letter to Richards.
Jordan and McClintock pointed out that thousands of detention requests were made to the city in early 2025, yet “the vast majority were not honored,” especially under the Biden administration.
“During the same time frame, NYCDOC denied honor to nearly 1,000 criminal alien detainees,” they added.
Since Trump’s return to office, ICE agents have faced pushback from protesters in various locations, such as courthouses and hospitals, while conducting deportations.
The committee indicated that New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zoran Mamdani have contributed to the tension by acknowledging that local laws restrict the NYPD from regular collaboration with ICE.
“For years, New York City’s sanctuary law has hindered the NYPD from following most ICE detainees,” they explained in a letter to Tisch.
“Under current regulations, the NYPD can only honor ICE detainees when accompanied by a judicial warrant and if they have been ‘convicted of a violent or serious crime’ or identified in a terrorist database.”
Jordan and McClintock reiterated that numerous requests from ICE were submitted to the city in early 2025, without any being honored during the Biden administration.
A New York City Police Department Chief of Patrol, Phillip Rivera, raised concerns in August 2024 regarding the sanctuary laws, questioning when amendments would allow federal authorities to be alerted about non-citizens with violent crime convictions. He referenced an incident where Daniel Davon-Bonilla, arrested in April 2023 for suspicion of sexual assault, was released after serving a short sentence.
“He returned to the streets and violently assaulted another woman in Coney Island,” Rivera reported.
In March, Bragg’s office also settled a case concerning a 31-year-old transgender immigrant who sexually assaulted a minor in East Harlem, which drew criticism from federal officials.
Administrative changes from Mamdani have since limited local police’s ability to coordinate with immigration authorities.
Bragg also directed his prosecutors to handle cases in such a way that minimizes immigration consequences, which raised further alarms among Republicans.
The committee accused other district attorneys, including those from Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, of showing leniency towards illegal immigrants through their policies. In some instances, special units were created to shield immigrants.
Each office has been asked to provide relevant documents regarding their immigration policies and related cases by June 10.
Representatives from the seven offices have not responded to requests for comments.
