House Judiciary Committee report alleges NYC prosecutors downgrade charges to prevent deportation

A report from the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee alleges that prosecutors across New York City have been instructed to pursue lesser criminal charges against undocumented immigrants to minimize the risk of deportation.

The report claims that training materials, specifically from the Bronx District Attorney’s office, directed staff to consider immigration consequences during negotiations. This guidance reportedly included instructions to avoid convictions that trigger deportation for offenses such as firearms violations, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual offenses against children. In some instances, prosecutors were allegedly advised to conceal specific facts from conviction records to limit immigration enforcement actions.

When questioned about these findings during a recent press conference, New York Attorney General Letitia James and District Attorneys Melinda Katz and Eric Gonzalez declined to comment on the congressional investigation. The report follows data from the Department of Homeland Security indicating that New York authorities ignored over 16,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer requests.