Sanctuary policies do not work, says the US Customs and Immigration Enforcement Agency. When a violent criminal who is arrested by police in Philadelphia where their immigration status is not of a US Citizen, too often that person is not deported. They are released into the community, and many times commit more crimes. They may be in jail for a local charges but when ICE wants to take them into their custody, too often those detainers are not honored.
This week, ICE has chosen to highlight the sanctuary policy and enlist the public’s help to apprehend people they say are a danger to the community.. They started a billboard campaign, where people can see the faces and know the names of those that are wanted by authorities. These are not people wanted on minor offense like disorderly conduct or even a DUI.
The ad campaign is designed to bring the public information on people that may be in their community who should not be, according to ICE. The billboards also point out that the sanctuary policies are dangerous, and jeopardize public safety, according to ICE,
Han Soo Lee, 61, a South Korean national illegally present in the U.S. Lee was arrested by the Philadelphia Police Department Aug. 11 for aggravated assault, simple assault, possessing instrument of crime, recklessly endangering. ICE lodged a detainer with Curran-Fromhold Detention Center, but due to Philadelphia sanctuary laws, detainers have not been honored, and the subject was released to the community.
Mike Bwondara, 36, a Kenyan national illegally present in the U.S. Bwondara was arrested by the Philadelphia Police Department July 22 for aggravated assault, possess instrument of crime with intent, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person. ICE lodged a detainer with the Philadelphia Police Department, but due to Philadelphia sanctuary laws, detainers have not been honored, and the subject was released to the community.
Lauro Peralta-Veles, 51, an Ecuadorian national illegally present in the U.S. Peralta-Veles was arrested by the Pittsburgh Police Department June 20 for aggravated assault, public intoxication, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. ICE lodged a detainer, with the Allegheny County Jail, but due to Allegheny County sanctuary laws, detainers have not been honored, and the subject was released to the community.
Non-cooperation policies result in preventable crimes of violence taking place in our communities when dangerous criminal aliens are released to the streets to reoffend. In December 2018, the Pittsburgh Police Department arrested Harvinder Singh, an Indian national illegally present in the U.S., for harassment. ICE officers lodged a detainer with the Allegheny County Jail, but it was not honored, and the subject was released from local custody without notification to ICE. This marked the second time a detainer on Singh wasn’t honored. He was previously arrested in 2017 for driving under the influence in Georgia, subsequently convicted, and the Columbus Police Department released him with an active detainer in place. In February 2020, the New York Police Department (NYPD) arrested and charged him with murder and criminal possession of a weapon. ICE lodged a detainer with the NYPD – Queens Central Booking and is currently monitoring the disposition of his criminal case.
The billboards are located at or near:
- Route 1 north of Old Lincoln Highway
- Pennsylvania Turnpike Bridge & Wood
- Walt Whitman Bridge #5
- Route 130 .3 miles south of Airport Circle
- North Christopher Columbus Boulevard Arctic Avenue
- I-276 Pennsylvania Turnpike east of Buck Road
The public should call ICE at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) if they have information to report about the whereabouts of an individual featured on one of the billboards.