Sanctuary cities across the United States are facing growing criticism as cases of undocumented migrants committing serious crimes continue to make headlines. In the latest example, a convicted rapist who was in the country illegally has reoffended, sparking renewed debate over sanctuary laws that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The recent case involves 24-year-old Daniel Davon-Bonilla from Nicaragua. Last year, he was arrested for raping someone in a migrant shelter. Despite his serious crime and undocumented status, Davon-Bonilla was released from jail 15 months later without notification to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which had plans to deport him. Now, he has been arrested again for the violent rape of a 46-year-old woman in Coney Island, New York. This case has reignited criticism of so-called “sanctuary city” policies in cities like New York, which prevent local law enforcement from communicating with ICE, even about dangerous criminals.
At a press conference on August 13, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, expressed his frustration with these policies. “Laws do not allow us to coordinate with ICE,” Adams said. “I’m not happy about that, and I think he’s the poster child of what’s wrong with not doing that coordination.”
Mayor Adams was referring to sanctuary policies that restrict local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, even in cases involving violent offenders like Davon-Bonilla. Proponents of these policies argue that they protect “innocent migrants” and encourage them to report crimes or cooperate with police if they are victims or witnesses. However, critics argue that these policies make communities less safe by allowing dangerous criminals to slip through the cracks.
“I don’t know a single police officer on the street who arrests someone for a crime and then goes, ‘God, I hope that guy comes out on the street to do it again,’” said Matthew Elliston, the Maryland Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Maryland, another state with sanctuary cities, has also been dealing with an uptick in repeat offenders among undocumented migrants. In Howard County, for example, federal immigration officials are currently searching for two convicted criminals who could have been detained for ICE pickup but were instead released due to local sanctuary policies.
“So, we have two teams out looking for two people,” said Elliston. Strict sanctuary laws in many Maryland counties prohibit local law enforcement from holding undocumented inmates for ICE agents, forcing Elliston’s officers to track down their targets on the streets instead.
“Howard County has an anti-ICE policy right now,” Elliston explained. “Their law enforcement officers are not allowed to speak to us at all.” He added, “And it doesn’t matter what the case is; there’s no exemption for pedophiles, rapists, or murderers. It’s a zero-tolerance policy for working with us.”
While Elliston understands the rationale behind these policies and agrees that constitutional rights deserve protection, he believes there should be exceptions for violent crimes and sexual assaults. His ICE field office has already apprehended 105 sex offenders this fiscal year, the most of any in the country, highlighting the challenges law enforcement faces under current sanctuary policies.
Frustrations among law enforcement are compounded by what many see as a failure by the current administration at the Southern border. Last year’s surge in migrant crossings overwhelmed authorities, who are still grappling with millions of undocumented individuals awaiting court dates that could be years away.
Many argue that repeat offenders who are undocumented should either be deported immediately or kept behind bars, not given multiple chances to reoffend. Critics of sanctuary city policies are calling for stronger measures to curb migrant crime and protect communities.
For those who believe change is needed, one message is clear: Vote Trump-Vance in November to stop the cycle of crime in sanctuary cities and bring back law and order.
