The number of U.S. cities, counties and states that refuse to prosecute illegal immigrants or cooperate with federal enforcement is increasing, along with the number of criminal releases, a new report shows.
Roughly 340 jurisdictions are hindering immigration enforcement, and together these sanctuaries are releasing about 1,000 criminal aliens per month, reported the Center for Immigration Studies, an advocate for reduced immigration.
In the first nine months of 2014, these sanctuaries released 9,295 criminal aliens that federal agents were trying to deport. Nearly 60 percent of them were charged or convicted felons, and more than 60 percent had “significant” criminal backgrounds or had caused public safety concerns.
About 1 in 4 of them were arrested again after their release by sanctuary governments, and 600 were released at least a second time. CIS obtained the numbers from a report prepared for Congress by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (RELATED: DHS Secretary Blasts Sanctuary City Policies)
Most of the 9,295 criminals released by sanctuary cities were not re-apprehended by ICE at during the time studied. Nearly 70 percent were still at large, of which 58 percent had prior felonies or violent misdemeanors.
An interactive map produced by CIS shows where the sanctuaries are located.
(Center for Immigration Studies)
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.