A House Judiciary Committee report issued Monday concluded that New York City prosecutors had been instructed to routinely downgrade criminal charges against illegal aliens. According to the report, the practice was intended to keep those individuals from being taken into custody by ICE.

State Attorney General Letitia James and two New York City district attorneys were questioned about the report Thursday during a gun safety conference. The officials reportedly responded with blank stares and provided no answers about the alleged downgrading of charges.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin addressed the report Saturday during an appearance on Fox News with host Kayleigh McEnany. He accused New York officials of giving illegal aliens preferential treatment while leaving American citizens to deal with the consequences.

“Illegal aliens in New York State have more rights than American citizens,” Mullin charged while discussing the sanctuary policies and their effect on federal immigration enforcement.

Gun Laws Have Changed! Protect yourself by knowing where you can and cannot carry your firearm, so you can travel with confidence.

Mullin then pointed to more than 16,000 detainers involving people held in prison systems or previously released. He said the Department of Homeland Security had asked authorities to transfer those individuals because they were in the United States illegally.

“Now, get this, there's over 16,000 detainers. That means individuals that are in their prison systems or have been released from the prison systems that the Department of Homeland Security has said, “Hey, turn these individuals over. They're illegally in this country. They shouldn't be released in the country.”

HOLY CRAP! DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin CONFIRMS that New York prosecutors are downgrading criminal offenses to shield them from ICE deportation

"Illegal immigrants in New York State have more rights than American citizens!" M*RDERERS are being protected from ICE too "BLOOD is on the hands of these sanctuary city politicians that's done this!" According to a new House Judiciary report, the Bronx DA's office trains prosecutors in "immigration-conscious plea bargaining" That includes INVENTING legally impossible charges like "attempted reckless assault" just so the conviction won't trigger deportation. This is absolute betrayal. Prosecutors were also told to leave guns, domestic violence, and child victims' ages off the record. An American citizen gets the full charge! — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 31, 2026

Democrats routinely frame their approach toward illegal aliens as compassion. It rejected that framing, saying such arguments ignore the suffering connected to illegal immigration and the refusal of sanctuary jurisdictions to cooperate with federal law enforcement.

Mullin connected the ignored detainers to tens of thousands of felony charges. His figures included people accused of murder and rape, along with other serious crimes, who were released into New York City communities.

“[The number of detainers that New York ignores] represents over 52,000 felony charges. 131 of those have murdered somebody. 132 of those individuals have raped somebody, and the list goes on, and they're turning them loose in their streets in New York City.”

The House Judiciary Committee report contained figures that differed slightly from Mullin’s description. The report listed 131 homicides, 132 kidnappings, 1,107 sexual offenses, and thousands of additional crimes connected to the detainers New York authorities allegedly ignored.

Mullin also dismissed the claim that protecting illegal aliens from federal immigration enforcement is humane. He argued that sanctuary city politicians bear responsibility when their policies allow dangerous individuals to remain on American streets.

“[T]heir rationale for trying to protect illegals that are in this country, they want to say it's humane. It's not humane. It's costing Americans their lives, and every single person that's lost their life to an illegal was 100% preventable, and the blood is on the hands of these sanctuary city politicians that's done this.”

It should be rejected that the idea that blocking Department of Homeland Security operations constitutes compassion. It described the deliberate protection of illegal aliens from lawful enforcement as the real cruelty, rather than the enforcement of immigration laws.

The report and Mullin’s remarks presented a sharp contrast between federal immigration authorities and New York City’s sanctuary policies. More than 16,000 detainers and over 52,000 felony charges provided the numerical backdrop to that conflict.

Voters should remember the controversy on November 3. Its focus remained on elected officials whose sanctuary policies allegedly protect criminal illegal aliens while exposing American citizens to preventable danger.

Under the Trump administration, tens of thousands of violent criminals have been removed from the country. It also credited the Department of Homeland Security with dismantling drug cartels and other criminal enterprises.

The work of 270,000 Department of Homeland Security personnel is keeping Americans safe. It contrasted those efforts with politicians accused of prioritizing criminal illegal aliens over American citizens and obstructing ICE agents enforcing immigration laws.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.