Top elected officials in New York expressed surprise when questioned about claims from a House Judiciary Committee report. The report accused local prosecutors of intentionally downgrading charges to prevent the deportation of noncitizens.
During a press conference in Manhattan, questions were posed to New York Attorney General Letitia James, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. Reporters wanted to know if there were intentional efforts to alter charges against noncitizens to avoid deportation risks.
“Did any of you order prosecutors to downgrade gun charges to keep illegal immigrants in the U.S., per the Judiciary Committee report?” a reporter inquired.
Katz responded with a gesture and noted that their goal is to charge any defendant with an illegal firearm to the fullest extent under the law. The exchange happened shortly after a congressional report was released, which alleged various practices in New York City to support noncitizens through the legal system.
The report mentioned that Katz’s office employs an “Immigration Specialist” to ensure plea deals are designed to be “immigration-safe” and that past convictions may be reduced.
Further claims included instructions in a 2022 memorandum from Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, advising prosecutors to avoid deportation consequences for misdemeanors and non-carceral felonies. The report also highlighted Bronx DA Darcel Clark’s office and their method called “Immigration-Conscious Plea Bargaining,” which reportedly involves offering offenses that do not result in deportation and avoiding charges like aggravated felonies.
The report alleged that certain details, like gun involvement and the age of minor victims, were sometimes omitted from official records to prevent federal authorities from using such information for deportation purposes. In response to these claims, Katz’s office reiterated that illegal firearm charges are pursued to the utmost degree allowed by law.
Fox News Digital reached out to the district attorneys’ offices across New York City for further comment on the report.