NYC prosecutors face House Judiciary report that accuses them of downgrading charges to protect illegal immigrants from deportation

Report targets prosecutor decisions

The House Judiciary Committee report claims New York City prosecutors negotiated plea agreements designed to limit immigration consequences. It alleges that charges were lowered so noncitizens could avoid convictions that might trigger removal from the United States.

The report centers on how local prosecutors handled cases involving noncitizens. The claims concern alleged intentional changes to charges, rather than a general description of every prosecution in the city.

Officials face questions

James, Katz and Gonzalez were questioned about the allegations at a Manhattan press conference on Thursday. The three are among New York’s top elected officials. Katz shrugged and raised her hands in response, according to the New York Post. The account does not describe a detailed response from James or Gonzalez to the report’s claims.

Claims tied to sanctuary policies

The allegations have been framed as part of a wider dispute over New York City’s sanctuary policies. A separate description of the report says it concerns plea bargains intended to be “immigration-safe.” The report’s claims concern whether prosecutors reduced charges to prevent deportation. The information provided does not establish that the allegations have been proven.