House Report: Deportations Have Interrupted Some Criminal Cases Involving Non-Citizens

A report released on Tuesday by the House Judiciary Committee found that the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign has disrupted criminal prosecutions across the country by removing crime victims, witnesses and even defendants in the middle of their trials.

The Independent reported that the effort has effectively handed out “get-out-of-jail-free” cards to boost deportation numbers, preventing federal, state and local prosecutors from securing convictions. Rep.

Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, stated: “The Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign is not making America safer. ” Raskin added that the administration’s approach is undermining public safety, due process and the rule of law while robbing victims and their families of access to justice.

The findings follow a series of reports detailing how the Trump administration has shifted federal resources into immigration enforcement while career prosecutors have left in droves, resulting in a dramatic decrease in federal prosecutions.

Deporting witnesses, victims and defendants creates a culture of impunity where criminals feel they can prey upon the immigrant community without consequence, according to the report. Carmelo Gonzalez was likely a key witness in the case against his 11-year-old daughter’s abuser and killer last February, but Immigration and Customs Enforcement tried to deport him before he could testify.

Javier Hernandez was prepared to testify against two alleged drug smugglers in Los Angeles before ICE deported him to Mexico last March without alerting federal prosecutors.