Immigration and Customs Enforcement says the Travis County Sheriff released a dangerous gang member into the community, despite the fact that the man has returned after being deported four times, and is facing a firearms charge, due to the county's 'Sanctuary' policies, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
ICE agents say they were able to find and apprehend Julio Mendoza-Caballero, 33, at a home in Austin and arrest him without incident. He is now facing deportation again, and prison time for returning after being legally deported.
Daniel Bible, who is the field office director for ICE in San Antonio, said 'Sanctuary' policies damage the integrity of US immigration law.
"ICE officers and the individual neighborhoods are placed at risk each time an ICE officer is forced to pick up an alien who could have safely been turned over to us by the releasing law enforcement agency," he said. "In the interest of public safety, ICE continually strives to strengthen its relationship with local law enforcement agencies."
Bible says ICE had placed a legal 'detainer' on Mendoza-Caballero, who is a known member of the murderous Surenos 13 Mexican gang, to make sure he was turned over to immigration officials instead of being relasaed from custody.
But, Bible says, instead of notifying ICE, Travis County officials simply released him from custody.
Now that he is back in custody, Mendoza-Caballero faces up to 20 years in prison for illegally reentering the country after deportation.
The 'Sanctuary' policies of the Travis County Sheriff, who took office January 1, is a main reason why the Texas Legislature approved controversial SB 4, which bans 'Sanctuary Cities' and calls for prison time and fines for officials who enforce 'Sanctuary' policies.