Concerns Raised by Acting ICE Director

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons has voiced serious concerns about the risks to public safety posed by sanctuary jurisdictions throughout the U.S. In a recent interview, Lyons explained how local governments that don’t assist federal immigration enforcement may jeopardize community safety and compel ICE agents to undertake riskier operations.

When asked about the differences between non-sanctuary areas like Texas and sanctuary cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston, Lyons emphasized the impact these policies have. “You know, it’s huge. I think it’s a game changer,” he remarked, discussing how arresting criminal foreigners in secure settings is far safer than the challenges posed by sanctuary cities. “ICE agents and officers are often working with state and local agents, which is not just safer for my officers but also for the agencies involved and the individuals they’re apprehending.”

Without cooperation from local authorities, ICE is forced to send larger teams into communities, which raises the risk for everyone. “In an arrest team, you’re looking at five or six officers or agents,” Lyons explained. “With rising violence against our agents, we often need to double that number just to ensure safety during these operations.”

Recently, an incident in Los Angeles drew attention when a tow truck driver allegedly towed an ICE vehicle while agents were making arrests. This was reported by Breitbart Texas, highlighting the unusual situation. “It seemed he found it amusing to interfere with our immigration enforcement,” said a U.S. lawyer, noting that the driver could face up to ten years in federal prison if convicted.

Lyons applauded Texas for its decision to ban sanctuary policies and implement statewide cooperation, calling it a model for the rest of the country. “We’re fortunate to have Texas as a partner; we can ensure that people are handed over safely in places like Harris County and Dallas County,” he stated. “Unfortunately, across the country, we often find ourselves working in communities that feel unsafe.”

The impact of non-cooperation can be severe. Lyons referenced the tragic case of Jocelyn Nungarei, a 12-year-old girl from Houston, who was raped and killed by two gang members who had illegally entered the U.S. and were previously released by the Biden administration. They had reportedly committed a crime in New York before returning to the community.

“I met with Jocelyn’s mom and grandmother; the pain they have experienced is heartbreaking,” Lyons shared. “It’s clear that open border policies have led to significant casualties among American citizens.”

Under the Biden administration, Lyons noted that there was political pressure leading to the release of illegal immigrants without thorough vetting. He described a chaotic system that lacks the necessary resources for agents to verify individuals’ backgrounds. “We couldn’t dig deeply into their history,” he said. “Our fingerprints would be sent to the FBI, and we’d only receive results weeks later.”

A recent task force in Brooklyn uncovered a suspect labeled as a terrorist who had been released after seeking asylum, despite warnings about him in FBI databases, according to reports. Lyons called upon sanctuary jurisdictions to reconsider their stance, even in regard to the most serious offenders. “We can establish a sanctuary policy,” he stated.

He further warned that ICE is increasing its resources to deal with uncooperative cities. “If they choose not to collaborate, that’s fine,” he said, “but we’ll ensure that a sufficient number of agents are available around the clock to prevent criminal aliens from re-entering communities.”

Lyons described the problematic situation in Boston, another notable sanctuary city, mentioning how these places effectively serve as entry points for many non-citizens due to lenient policies. “There’s a perception that you can obtain a driver’s license without ID checks, which draws people in,” he explained.

He recounted Operation Patriot, an initiative aimed at targeting criminal aliens in real-time, noting that they nearly doubled their arrests during this time. “It became clear that cities not cooperating with us were allowing criminals to operate openly,” he added.

“Sanctuary cities often don’t work on a regular schedule; they release individuals when they know we’re not around,” Lyons noted. He addressed those jurisdictions claiming ICE lacks the resources to manage the situation: “We’re in the process of hiring around 12,000 people. If they choose to work with us, we can support their law enforcement efforts effectively.”