DHS Secretary: Justice Department ‘Reviewing’ Possibility of Criminally Charging Sanctuary City Politicians

Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ Department of Justice (DOJ) is “reviewing” the possibility of criminally charging politicians who enforce “sanctuary city” policies where jurisdictions illegally harbor criminal illegal aliens, according to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.

In a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on Tuesday, Nielsen revealed that DHS had put in a “request” to the DOJ to review a potential policy where sanctuary city politicians are charged with criminal violations for harboring criminal illegal aliens in their jurisdictions against federal immigration law.

Nielsen confirmed the policy review in an exchange with Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA):

HARRIS: I appreciate if you’ll look into the facts. Thank you for that.

During a January 4th, 2018 interview on Fox news ICE agency Acting Director Homan said he asked the Justice Department to, quote, “Look into criminal charges for elected officials with sanctuary policies, as they are harboring illegal aliens, according to 8-USC 1324.” This comment was specifically about California elected officials after the enactment of the California Values Act. My question is whether DHS is currently working with the Justice Department to bring section 8-USC 1324 charges or any criminal charges against state or local officials.

NIELSEN: I believe the request was made. The Department of Justice is reviewing what avenues might be available. The context of this is of course not only putting my ICE officers at risk but also finding an efficient and effective way to enforce our immigration laws. [Emphasis added]

HARRIS: So, you are aware of cases in which this code will be used to criminally charge elected officials?

NIELSEN: I am not aware of any cases, no ma’am. I believe it was just a request to look into it.

HARRIS: And was that a request to from your department?

NIELSEN: Yes.

As Breitbart News reported, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Thomas Homan said in an interview that he wanted to see pro-sanctuary city lawmakers and politicians charged with criminal violations in states like California for giving safe haven to criminal illegal aliens.

Homan said:

The president is totally against sanctuary cities. He knows, as well as I do that people are dying, people are being victimized by illegal aliens in this country and there are certain sanctuary cities that don’t want to cooperate with us. Look, this is about the American public. This is about the U.S. citizens being victimized by some of these criminal illegal aliens. We’ve got to hold sanctuary cities accountable. This is going to continue. The crime rate in California is going to increase.

At least 50 percent of these criminal aliens being released back into the public re-offend the first year. Seventy-five percent will re-offend in 5 years. This is a victimization of the American community. This isn’t the America I grew up in. We’ve got to take these sanctuary cities on. We’ve got to take them to court and start charging some of these politicians with crimes. [Emphasis added]