Visa Lawyer Blog
ICE officials are not happy this morning. Illegal immigrants arrested for petty crimes won’t be held in jail longer than necessary in San Francisco, even if federal immigration agents may want them detained for possible deportation.
Instead, starting Wednesday, deputies will treat those eligible for release just like U.S. citizens: They will be cited to appear in court. The new policy is his attempt to comply with a city law that prevents police from aiding federal authorities in non-felony crimes and a U.S. law that requires authorities to share fingerprints with immigration agents.
Under this policy, illegal immigrants who commit misdemeanors, such as disorderly conduct, trespassing or shoplifting, will not be held while the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) checks their status through a fingerprinting monitoring program.
Hennessey said the change is meant to coincide with the city’s “Sanctuary City” law, which aims to provide refuge for illegal immigrants.
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