(The Center Square) — A high-ranking federal immigration official is among those urging New York City to lift its sanctuary policy, saying it prevents the NYPD from cooperating with federal authorities to apprehend migrants suspected of violent crimes.
Speaking at a rally with New York elected officials on Monday, New York City field office director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement Kenneth Genalo said city and state policies restricting cooperation with federal immigration officials prevent ICE from doing its job. As a result, ICE agents often have to rely on the media for information about potential suspects.
"We're no longer contacted, we're no longer called, and we have to check our databases, but obviously there's hundreds of people a week that are being arrested throughout the city," Genalo said in remarks. "If we can't determine which one is being the most violent, we have to find out through the media, through the newspapers, through the acts of television outlets."
