New York Officials Respond to House Report on Prosecuting Noncitizens

During a press conference in Manhattan on Thursday, three prominent New York elected officials seemed caught off guard when questioned about a House Judiciary Committee report. This report suggested that local prosecutors had deliberately downgraded charges against noncitizens to shield them from deportation.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, faced inquiries regarding the claim that prosecutors in the city altered or reduced charges to prevent noncitizens from receiving convictions that could result in removal from the country.

At one point, a reporter directly asked, “Did any of you order prosecutors to downgrade gun charges to keep illegal immigrants in the U.S., as stated in the Judiciary Committee report?”

Katz responded with a shrug, as reported by the New York Post. She remarked, “Our answer couldn’t help it,” before a moderator intervened, prompting for “any other on-topic questions” to keep the conference moving.

This line of questioning emerged after a 22-page congressional report highlighted what it described as widespread practices in New York City’s prosecutorial offices.

The document revealed that Katz’s office employs an “Immigration Specialist” to facilitate “immigration-safe” plea deals and to minimize past convictions.

Moreover, it referenced a memorandum from Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg from 2022, which allegedly guided prosecutors to seek outcomes that would not lead to deportation consequences for all misdemeanors and non-carceral felonies.

The report also stated that Bronx DA Darcel Clark provides training for prosecutors in “Immigration-Conscious Plea Bargaining.” This training encourages the use of non-deportable offenses, avoidance of aggravated felony charges, and the application of hypothetical charges like “attempted reckless assault,” which lack necessary legal intent.

Additionally, prosecutors reportedly received instructions on how to omit key details from official records of convictions, such as any gun involvement, domestic relationships, or the age of minor victims, presumably to prevent federal authorities from utilizing this information as grounds for deportation.

After the press conference, a spokesperson for Katz reached out to clarify that there is never leniency shown in weapon-related cases, stating, “We charge any defendant with an illegal firearm with the highest possible charge under the law.”

Fox News Digital has attempted to contact all five district attorneys’ offices in New York City for their comments on the report.