A local immigration attorney’s office has labeled the new report, by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), “propaganda” designed to further Trump’s immigrants-as-criminals rhetoric.
In response to President Donald Trump’s controversial executive order, ICE released a 35-page report on the effects of not complying with ICE’s detention attempts. It’s titled the “Weekly Declined Detainer Outcome Report.”
The Meyer Law Office, in Denver, leads “Know Your Rights” trainings with community members, schools, and churches to ensure that the constitutional rights of immigrants are protected when they interact with immigration officials.
The office is also involved in undocumented immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra’s case against ICE and her continued fight against deportation.
In a related effort, State Rep. Joe Salazar (D-Thornton) recently introduced the Ralph Carr Freedom Defense Act. The act would prohibit local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities if their actions are deemed unconstitutional.
Hans Meyer, principal of Meyer Law Office, released a statement criticizing the new ICE report.
“Apparently, in Donald Trump’s America, ‘innocent until proven guilty’ no longer applies to noncitizens. Our Constitution guarantees the right to due process, but over half of the cases referenced in ICE’s report are individuals charged with crimes, who have not been convicted. Most of the so-called ‘notable criminal activities’ are non-violent misdemeanor charges. ICE’s report is a huckster’s attempt to bully local jurisdictions who have passed policies limiting detainers, but those cities should stand proud knowing that they are defending constitutional rights. ICE needs to stop playing like a junior varsity squad and comply with the Fourth Amendment, just like every other law enforcement agency in the country.”
Policy director Julie Gonzales added,
“ICE is trying to create a false narrative linking immigrants and crime. Not only is the crime rate lower for immigrants than it is for citizens, cities that pass sanctuary policies that limit local law enforcement’s cooperation with ICE are actually safer and have stronger economies than cities that do not. We’ve said for years that we are all safer when immigrants feel that they can trust local law enforcement to not act as ICE officers, and that is borne out in the data.”
