Report: Judge says ‘sanctuary’ jail led to immigration sweep
AUSTIN, Texas — A federal magistrate judge in Texas said Monday that U.S. immigration officials had informed him that large-scale arrests in Austin were ordered as a result of the local sheriff adopting “sanctuary” policies in her jail.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Austin made the claims in open court and audio of his comments were posted by the Austin American-Statesman. His suggestion that the arrests in February — which rattled advocacy groups at the time — were retaliation is contrary to U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement previously saying the sweeps were business as usual.
At the centre of the claims is Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez announcing after President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January that her jails would no longer comply with all federal immigration detainer requests. She has faced heavy criticism from Republicans over the so-called “sanctuary” policies.
Detainers are government requests that an immigrant who could face deportation be turned over to immigration authorities.