A recent report has brought to light a violation of New York City's sanctuary laws by a Department of Correction officer, who provided federal immigration agents with information on individuals believed to be in the country illegally. According to ABC7NY, the Department of Investigation discovered at least two instances where the officer, assigned to a federal violent gang task force, shared data which was not meant for civil immigration enforcement purposes.
The Department of Correction has come under scrutiny for not providing the necessary training and guidance to staff about adhering to city laws and DOC policy, particularly in handling the sharing of information with federal agencies, in this case, the identities of Cristian Concepcion and Pedro Mujica Villa Nueva, the latter was charged with assault and grand larceny and the former convicted of third-degree assault. The Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber has since called for an audit of the Department of Corrections to search for further violations, declaring that "New York City law and DOC policy do not allow City resources to be used for the purpose of facilitating the enforcement of federal immigration law, and that prohibition includes the sharing of information with our federal law enforcement partners for that purpose," in a statement obtained by ABC7NY.
The New York Post also reported that the unnamed investigator notified U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about the release of undocumented immigrants from custody. Although the officer’s actions were characterized as “unwittingly,” they led to a breach that enabled federal authorities to detain individuals for potential deportation.
The investigation report did not recommend disciplinary action against the Department of Correction (DOC) investigator involved. Instead, it called for corrective measures, including a review of sanctuary city guidelines and the development of clear protocols for interactions with federal immigration authorities. DOC officials acknowledged the Department of Investigation’s recommendations and confirmed that efforts are underway to improve correction staff’s understanding of sanctuary city policies. According to the DOC’s response, the employee involved has received additional training to help prevent future legal violations. The city also reiterated that, under Mayor Eric Adams, New York City remains committed to refraining from participation in civil immigration enforcement, in accordance with local laws.
