Yonkers Insider: Federal Government Refuses to Do Their Job, Lack Foresight to Obtain Necessary Warrant .

Federal Government Refuses to Do Their Job, Lack Foresight to Obtain Necessary Warrant.

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(White Plains, NY) – Last week, the United States Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a factually inaccurate press release which attempted to cast blame on Westchester County and the County’s Department of Correction for the release of a Brazilian national who is currently pending charges.

In response to another politically charged, incendiary press release issued by ICE, Westchester County presented the facts regarding this case stemming from an incident in December of 2019. 

Westchester County government operated legally, within its responsibilities under New York State Law and it was the Federal Government that failed to properly follow the law and obtain a federal judicial warrant. The Port Chester Village Court remanded this individual for incarceration at the County Jail until tried in Port Chester. The County then held that individual as required by State Law.

ICE compounded their behavior by asserting that Westchester County released the individual into the “public”, when in fact the County’s Department of Correction returned the individual, under police guard, to the local Court which remanded him to us for their action.

County Executive George Latimer said: “ICE is well aware that the County will turn over any individual to their custody if they deliver a Federal Judicial Warrant that supersedes a State or Local Court. ICE failed to do their job, failing to request over a month’s time, a warrant from the Federal Court, which is located two blocks away from the County Office Building. In so doing, they place their authority as a non-judicial Administrative entity above those sworn to judicial authority.”

Latimer concluded: “This ideology-centered enforcement of ICE, whereby they feel empaneled to override local Courts and laws should be concerning to all citizens. Once society allows unelected, appointed agents to feel they can override due process for some, it is a short walk to override due process for others. Tyranny starts in small ways before it becomes oppressive in its control; a fake news press release cannot cover the continual actions of an agency that refuses to follow the laws of New York in administering their brand of politicized policing.”