President Barack Obama's administration should be held responsible for crimes committed by the illegal immigrants it has failed to deport or prosecute, says Pinal County, Arizona, Sheriff Paul Babeu.
"The president has said this, time and time again, that there will be no action taken, and often, what they do to skirt consequences or punishment for these criminals is they finally do deport them. And so, victims are denied justice," Babeu said Wednesday on
Fox News Channel's "Your World with Neil Cavuto."
Adolfo Balbuena, 18, an illegal immigrant without a driver's license, has been charged in the hit-and-run death of Angeles Moreno, 3, on Sunday. Balbuena allegedly had been drinking,
The Fresno Bee reported.
In Arizona, law enforcement officers are required to ask if there is reasonable suspicion that someone they have pulled over is in the country illegally, but Babeu said he can hold suspects only on state charges. They have to be referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for immigration charges.
But ICE agents often let suspects go even if there is an outstanding warrant on them from ICE, Babeu told Fox News.
"That is a part of their policy," he said.
Hundreds of convicted criminals are released in his county annually, he said, and federal agents have refused to release their names.
"I don't know how we don't hold President Obama and this administration responsible for all these crimes, these deaths and these victims . . . because they knowingly released these offenders and these convicted criminals who are dangerous back into our communities," Babeu said.
One ICE lawyer, Patricia M. Vroom, has filed a discrimination complaint saying she was told to use prosecutorial discretion and pursue cases against illegal immigrants whom the administration deemed low-level priorities.
Those included drunken-driving charges and identity theft,
The Washington Times reports.
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