House Report Accuses 5 NYC DAs of Downgrading Charges to Avert Deportation
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 29
House Report Accuses 5 NYC DAs of Downgrading Charges to Avert Deportation
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 29
Summary
A 22-page House Judiciary Committee report alleges New York City prosecutors reduced or altered charges against noncitizens to avoid convictions that could trigger deportation.
The report says Queens DA Melinda Katz's office used an "Immigration Specialist," Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg issued a 2022 memo favoring dispositions that avoid deportation consequences, and the Bronx DA's office trained staff in "Immigration-Conscious Plea Bargaining."
It also alleges prosecutors used non-deportable or even "legally impossible" charges and omitted details such as gun involvement, domestic relationships or victims' ages from conviction records to limit federal removal grounds.
At a Manhattan news conference, Attorney General Letitia James, Katz and Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez appeared caught off guard when asked about the allegations; Katz later denied any leniency in weapons cases.
The accusations sharpen the political fight over New York's sanctuary policies, with Fox News Digital saying it sought comment from all five city district attorneys' offices.