Sanctuary States Release Thousands of Criminal Offenders
According to a recent survey, more than 25,000 offenders were released back into communities from October to February last year without notifying immigration officials.
California ranked as the highest offender, but other states like Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Virginia also released numerous criminals without prior warning. The report indicates that between October of last year and the start of 2023, a total of 22,283 offenders were released, with the number rising to 25,283 since then.
California led significantly in these releases, with 13,025 individuals set free. Following California, Illinois had 2,946 releases, Virginia reported 1,601, Massachusetts had 1,324, and Connecticut released 1,153.
The study highlighted specific facilities known for releasing significant numbers of offenders into the general population, often without regard for those in ICE detention awaiting proceedings. California’s Santa Clara County Jail was noted for releasing over 3,000 offenders, while Chicago’s Cook County Jail let go more than 1,000. Additionally, the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center in Virginia was responsible for releasing over 1,000 offenders as well.
Tom Homan, a former official in the Trump administration, stated that the current administration is unwilling to abandon Trump’s deportation policies, especially when it comes to sanctuary jurisdictions.
Homan expressed concerns this week, saying, “We double and triple the sanctuary cities. It’s not just because they lean politically blue; we know this is a crucial issue.” He added, “They release threats to public safety each day.”
Polling data suggests that sanctuary states are out of sync with public opinion. A recent Cygnal poll of 1,500 people taken from July 1-2 revealed that 70% view being in the U.S. illegally as a crime, and more than 60% support deportations. Interestingly, support among Hispanic voters for addressing illegal immigration has increased significantly over the past two months.
