DHS Cites 6,947 New York Releases to Rebut Goldman's Sanctuary City Claim

Q: What does data show about re-offense rates for criminally convicted immigrants released by sanctuary jurisdictions?

There is no solid public dataset in the material provided that measures the re-offense rate of criminally convicted immigrants released by sanctuary jurisdictions. What the record does show is narrower. DHS says New York failed to honor ICE detainers for 6,947 criminally convicted removable immigrants since January and has cited individual cases in which some of those released were later arrested again, including for violent offenses. Lawmakers and advocacy groups have also pointed to anecdotal cases in places such as New York, San Diego and Fairfax County where released noncitizens were later accused of new crimes. Those examples show that re-offending can occur, but they do not establish an overall recidivism rate. The broader research cited in the background cuts in a different direction: studies generally find immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, are less likely than native-born Americans to be arrested or convicted of crimes, and research on sanctuary policies has not found that they raise overall crime rates. But those studies address general crime patterns, not the specific subgroup of convicted immigrants released after detainers were declined. So the best evidence-based answer is that the available material does not provide a verified aggregate re-offense rate for this population. It provides release counts, offense histories, and selected repeat-offense cases, but not a comprehensive recidivism measure.

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 23

DHS said New York has released 6,947 criminally convicted immigrants since January despite ICE detainers, directly disputing Rep. Daniel Goldman's assertion that sanctuary jurisdictions generally transfer such offenders after their sentences.
Those releases involved convictions including 29 homicides, 2,509 assaults, 199 burglaries, 305 robberies, 392 drug offenses, 300 weapons offenses and 207 sexual predatory offenses, according to Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis.
The agency also pointed to at least 12 case examples, including a Dominican national arrested for attempted murder, a Crips gang member facing a weapons charge and Turkish national Selman Cevik, whom DHS said New York authorities freed despite detainer requests.
Goldman made the claim during a House markup on a bill to codify President Donald Trump's border orders, where Republicans immediately challenged him and cited sanctuary jurisdictions that do not cooperate with ICE.
The clash extends a broader fight over sanctuary policies, with DHS saying about 7,000 immigrants in New York had active detainer requests last winter and arguing local noncooperation undermines public safety.