04 August, 2017
The Justice Department in June tapped 12 cities to receive aid through the Public Safety Partnership, and officials said the four cities that were sent the letters had expressed interest in the next chance at participating.
The Justice Department sent letters to cities struggling with gun violence, telling them they will be ineligible for a new program that aims to root out drug trafficking and gang crime unless they give federal immigration authorities access to jails and provide advance notice before releasing someone in custody who is wanted on immigration violations. The letter, which also went to San Bernardino, Albuquerque, N.M., and Baltimore, said the department was "reviewing your jurisdiction's commitment to reducing violent crime stemming from illegal immigration".
"The Department of Justice is committed to supporting our law enforcement at every level, and that's why we're asking "sanctuary" jurisdictions to stop making their jobs harder", Sessions said in a statement.
(3) Does your jurisdiction have a statute, rule, regulation, policy, or practice that is created to ensure that your correctional and detention facilities will honor a written request from DHS to hold a foreign national for up to 48 hours beyond the scheduled release date, in order to permit DHS to take custody of the foreign national? The facility is run by the state Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
The police department responded that it's not a sanctuary city and it does not operate a jail facility.
A spokeswoman for the mayor's office said that Mayor Richard Berry ended the city's sanctuary status in 2010, and said she would release an official statement later in the afternoon. "That's a state issue, so perhaps he'll get some more information and learn how the process takes place in the state of Maryland, especially Baltimore City".
The term "sanctuary-city" does not have a specific definition, but the term is usually used to refer to municipalities that don't fully cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on enforcing federal immigration laws.
"The Justice Department recognizes the higher-than-average crime rates in Baltimore and the need for intensive assistance to help reduce violent crime".
Davis said Baltimore police officers do not enforce federal immigration laws, but the department does honor criminal arrest warrants obtained by federal authorities.
"Baltimore is a welcoming city".
"The Justice Department's mission is to ensure public safety and control crime".
The program is aimed at providing federal training assistance to local law enforcement to combat violent crime. Compounding the confusion, Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones said he had only learned about the request through the media.
Baltimore Sun reporter Yvonne Wenger contributed to this article.
