More than 17,000 undocumented immigrants released by sanctuary cities since 2013 remain at large, according to an audit Monday by the Homeland Security inspector general, who detailed the growing trend of states and localities refusing to cooperate with ICE.
The report adds heft to the government’s argument that sanctuary cities are dangerous.
The inspector general said that when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement teams have to go out into communities to arrest people, it’s more dangerous for the target migrants, the officers and the community. It also takes far more resources, the audit found.
“For example, ICE reported sending more than 20 officers to arrest three MS-13 gang members in a major metropolitan city,” the inspector general said.
The report also suggests the number of immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally could be much higher than the government has said. The inspector general said the last Homeland Security estimate put the number at 12 million undocumented immigrants as of 2015 — but an academic study released in 2018 put it at 22.1 million.
Deporting large numbers of undocumented immigrants is impossible on ICE’s current budget, so the agency instead focuses on high-priority targets, usually going after migrants with criminal entanglements who end up in prison or jail.
When ICE learns of a deportable migrant in custody, it issues a “detainer” requests to the federal, state or local authorities holding the target, asking to be notified of release — and also asking that the person be held up to 72 hours for pickup.
Sanctuary cities and states refuse such cooperation to varying degrees.
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