ICE Launches Billboards Across Pennsylvania Seeking Immigration Law Violators
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has launched a billboard campaign in Pennsylvania, with billboards featuring the images of immigration violators who are either charged or convicted of crimes in the United States. This campaign is also aimed at educating the public about the dangers of non-cooperation with immigration policies.
ICE Billboards in Pennsylvania
Currently, the billboards are located at six locations in Pennsylvania. They feature the words “Wanted by ICE,” and an “at-large” mugshot (but not the name) of the alien pictured on the billboard. ICE, in an October 2, 2020, press release, said that the immigrants “may pose a public safety threat.” This move targets sanctuary cities, the cities that do not honor immigration detainers; in other words, they do not cooperate by handing over aliens with criminal convictions to ICE custody. ICE is urging the public to notify them of any information they have regarding the featured alien.
The aliens featured on the billboards include the following: Han Soo Lee, age 61, a South Korean national who is illegally present in the United States. After being arrested by the Philadelphia Police Department for aggravated assault, simple assault, possessing an instrument of crime, and recklessly endangering, he was still released from prison due to the sanctuary laws. Though ICE had placed a detainer on the alien, the Curran-Fromhold Detention Center refused to honor the detainer and released him to the community; and Lauro Peralta-Veles, age 51, who is an Ecuadorian national illegally present in the U.S. He was arrested for aggravated assault, public intoxication, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct by the Pittsburgh Police Department. He was released to the community due to Allegheny County sanctuary laws.
ICE’s press release noted that “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.”
Immigration Law Violators: “Immigration Detainers”
An Immigration Detainer, which ICE issues to Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA), is a notification that the alien is likely subject to removal, and includes a notice of ICE’s intent to assume custody of the alien detained by the LEA. Accordingly, the detainer asks that the LEA notify ICE at least 48 hours before the alien is to be released from criminal custody.
The LEA sometimes refuses and fails to honor the request by ICE, and this, says ICE, undermines its ability to maintain public safety. To learn more about this blog post or if you have any other immigration concerns, please feel free to contact me at info@norris-law.com or (484) 544-0022.