Elon Musk-backed bill to deport illegal immigrants convicted of sex crimes to get House vote
EXCLUSIVE: The House is poised to vote next week on a bill that would mandate the deportation of illegal immigrants who are found guilty of sex crimes. The legislation saw enthusiastic support just days ago from billionaire Elon Musk, who criticized the Democrats who previously opposed it. The Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act was first introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., last year and passed the House with bipartisan support. All Republican lawmakers voted for the bill, along with 51 House Democrats. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING ON TRUMP’S RETURN TO THE WHITE HOUSE Because it was not taken up by the formerly Democrat-controlled Senate, however, Mace introduced the bill again on Friday to start the process again in the new 119th Congress. “Let’s get it passed through both chambers of Congress this go around,” Mace wrote on social media over the weekend. Two sources told Fox News Digital that House GOP leaders intend to hold another vote on it next week, which would come just days before President-elect Trump’s inauguration. It’s one of several border security and other conservative policy bills introduced by House Republicans on Friday — the first day of the 119th Congress. 158 DEMS VOTE AGAINST BILL TO DEPORT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO COMMIT SEX CRIMES Over the weekend, Musk called for challengers to the Democrats who voted against the bill in September. “There is no excuse. Please post the list of people who opposed this law and want to keep illegals who are convicted sex offenders in America,” Musk wrote on X in response to a conservative influencer discussing the bill. “They all need to be voted out of office. Every one of them.” GOP lawmakers are signaling that they want to waste no time in enacting their agenda after the November election saw Republicans retain the House while also taking the White House and Senate. In addition to Mace bringing her bill back, Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Mike Collins, R-Ga., also reintroduced their own legislation that passed the House last year but did not see a Senate vote. Roy introduced a bill mandating proof of citizenship in the voter registration process, while Collins is leading legislation to direct federal immigration authorities to issue detainers and take custody of illegal aliens who commit theft-related crimes, such as shoplifting, as defined by state and local law. The latter bill is expected to be up for another House vote this week.
Judge Merchan denies Trump’s request to delay sentencing
New York Judge Juan Merchan denied President-elect Donald Trump’s request to delay sentencing in the New York v. Trump case. “Defendant’s motion for a stay of these proceedings, including the sentencing hearing scheduled for January 10, 2025, is hereby DENIED,” Merchan wrote in his decision Monday. Earlier Monday, Trump’s legal team filed a motion to delay sentencing in the case. Trump is set to be sentenced on Jan. 10 at 9:30 a.m., 10 days ahead of his inauguration as the 47th president of the United States on Jan. 20. “Today, President Trump’s legal team moved to stop the unlawful sentencing in the Manhattan D.A.’s Witch Hunt. The Supreme Court’s historic decision on Immunity, the state constitution of New York, and other established legal precedent mandate that this meritless hoax be immediately dismissed,” Trump spokesperson and incoming White House communications director Steven Cheung told Fox Digital on Monday morning. TRUMP FILES MOTION TO STAY ‘UNLAWFUL SENTENCING’ IN NEW YORK CASE “The American People elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate that demands an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and all of the remaining Witch Hunts. We look forward to uniting our country in the new administration as President Trump makes America great again,” Cheung continued. Earlier Monday, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office responded to Trump’s filing, calling on the court to deny the request. NEW YORK JUDGE SETS TRUMP SENTENCING DAYS BEFORE INAUGURATION Merchan has already said he will not sentence the president-elect to prison and instead issue a sentence of an “unconditional discharge,” which means there would be no punishment imposed. Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the Manhattan case in May. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office worked to prove that Trump falsified business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to former porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election to quiet her claims of an alleged affair with Trump in 2006. NY JUDGE ANNOUNCES UNCONDITIONAL DISCHARGE SENTENCING FOR TRUMP ON JAN 10 Trump has maintained his innocence in the case and repeatedly railed against it as an example of lawfare promoted by Democrats in an effort to hurt his election efforts ahead of November. “Virtually ever legal scholar and pundit says THERE IS NO (ZERO!) CASE AGAINST ME. The Judge fabricated the facts, and the law, no different than the other New York Judicial and Prosecutorial Witch Hunts. That’s why businesses are fleeing New York, taking with them millions of jobs, and BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAXES. The legal system is broken, and businesses can’t take a chance in getting caught up in this quicksand. IT’S ALL RIGGED, in this case against a political opponent, ME!!!” Trump posted to Truth Social on Sunday evening of the case. Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Winds of Change
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump transition, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… –Mental health disorders attributed to more service member hospital stays than any other ailment -National Sheriffs’ Association slams state of policing under Biden, throws full support behind Patel for FBI -ICE nabs illegal immigrant charged with sex crimes in blue city, after release from jail Congressional Republicans were buoyant on Monday after lawmakers gathered to certify President-elect Donald Trump’s White House victory. “It went great. It went smooth. This is a textbook transition of power. This is how democracy is supposed to operate,” House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., told Fox News Digital. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., shared praise for both Republican and Democratic leaders who led the largely ceremonial event…Read more ‘WHAT’S HE DOING?”: Trump plans to ‘immediately’ reverse Biden’s ‘ridiculous’ ban on new oil and gas drilling along U.S. coast…Read more LAND GRAB: Biden to dedicate two new national monuments on 850K acres of tribal land in California…Read more MEMORY LANE: In one of his last speeches in office, President Biden attempts to rehabilitate the image of the late segregationist Strom Thurmond…Read more DEFENSE DEALS: Russia to share advanced satellite technology with North Korea, Blinken warns…Read more ‘THE WINNING CONTINUES’: Justin Trudeau’s resignation met with gleeful reaction from conservatives online…Read more A HEALTHY AMERICA: Diet and nutrition experts weigh in on how RFK Jr’s nomination could impact how we eat…Read more PERSONAL TRIP: Donald Trump Jr. takes a personal trip to Greenland after president-elect floats purchasing country…Read more SACRED OBLIGATION: Harris to oversee certification of her defeat to Trump in presidential election…Read more ’51ST STATE’: Trump reacts to Trudeau resignation: ‘Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State’…Read more DIFFERENCES OF OPINION: RFK Jr. ‘wrong’ about vaccinations, GOP senator says…Read more NO ‘DRAMA’: Trump chief of staff pledges no ‘drama’ or second-guessing in White House…Read more NEW KID IN TOWN: New senator Bernie Moreno wants a border bill on Trump’s desk on day 1, putting Dems on record…Read more ‘NO TIME TO PLAY AROUND’: Senate must quickly confirm Noem as DHS chief in wake of terror attack, says Louisiana gov…Read more BORDERLINE: Tidal wave of border security bills hit House as Republicans move fast on DC takeover…Read more ‘WITCH HUNT’: Trump files motion to stay ‘unlawful sentencing’ in New York case…Read more Get the latest updates on the Trump presidential transition, incoming Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com
Dem lawmakers recall ‘no drama’ at Trump’s election certification: ‘We still have a democracy’
Washington, D.C. – Democratic lawmakers highlighted a smooth transition of power following the 2024 election certification for President-elect Trump, four years after protesters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Lawmakers gathered for a joint session in Washington, D.C., on Monday to certify the Electoral College votes for Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance. Vice President Kamala Harris presided over the certification, overseeing her own defeat to Trump after losing the presidential election in November. Democratic lawmakers spoke with Fox News Digital as they left the ratification, recalling a “no-drama” ceremony in contrast to President Biden’s certification four years prior. “We still have a democracy, as long as we can keep it,” Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I., told Fox News Digital when leaving the House floor. KAMALA HARRIS MAKES TRUMP’S 2024 PRESIDENTIAL WIN OFFICIAL DURING JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS Another Democrat, Rep. Jesús Garcia of Illinois, also commented on this year’s peaceful transition of power. “Smooth and done,” Garcia said. “No drama and no contesting. No false contestation of results.” JEFFRIES CLAIM ‘NO ELECTION DENIERS’ AMONG DEMS DESPITE 2016 ‘ILLEGITIMATE’ REMARKS WHEN TRUMP WON “This is a time-honored tradition,” said Rep. John Mannion, D-N.Y. “It’s a part of our country’s history and this is what we need to do. This is part of the job, and I’m glad I was able to participate today.” Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., told Fox that “it’s a good moment for American democracy, and we’re proud of the vice president, that she presided over it.” “We did our duty,” said Democratic Rep. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania. Harris also spoke to reporters following the certification. “Today was obviously a very important day. And it was about what should be the norm and what the American people should be able to take for granted, which is that one of the most important pillars of our democracy is that there will be a peaceful transfer of power,” Harris said. “Today, America’s democracy stood.” Trump’s inauguration will take place in two weeks on Monday, Jan. 20.
National Sheriffs’ Association slams state of policing under Biden, throws full support behind Patel for FBI
FIRST ON FOX: The National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) has endorsed Kash Patel as the director of the FBI in a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee leaders that also railed against the state of law enforcement under the Biden administration. “We are pleased to give our enthusiastic endorsement of Mr. Patel’s nomination to be the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and urge the Committee hold hearings expeditiously. We believe there will be broad support for Mr. Patel and we look forward to his swift confirmation by the full United States Senate,” NSA President Kieran Donahue wrote in a letter Monday to Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the chair and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, respectively. The NSA is a professional association that boasts roughly 10,000 active members. President-elect Trump nominated Kash Patel as FBI director in November. Patel is an outspoken crusader against the “deep state.” In a book published last year, he explicitly called for revamping the FBI in a chapter dubbed “Overhauling the FBI,” and moving the FBI’s headquarters out of Washington, D.C. ‘WHEN THEY FAIL, AMERICANS DIE’: TRUMP SOURCE BLASTS FBI, URGES SWIFT CONFIRMATION OF KASH PATEL AS DIRECTOR In his letter to the senators, Donahue lauded Patel’s resume as evidence he has the “credentials, skills, temperament, commitment, and experience for this critical position.” Patel previously served as a public defender in Florida’s Miami-Dade area, where he tried “scores of complex cases ranging from murder, to narco-trafficking, to complex financial crimes in jury trials in state and federal courts,” according to his Defense Department biography. He also won a DOJ award in 2017 under the Obama administration for his prosecution and conviction of 12 terrorists responsible for the World Cup bombings in 2010. Patel hit the national radar during Trump’s first administration, including when he worked as the national security adviser and senior counsel for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence under committee Chair Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif. I WORKED WITH KASH PATEL TO EXPOSE THE RUSSIA HOAX AND KNOW HE’S THE BEST PICK TO REFORM THE FBI “Mr. Patel’s service will undoubtedly prioritize the restoration of confidence in the Bureau through increased transparency, integrity, collaboration, and commitment to excellence. Mr. Patel promised NSA – if confirmed – his unwavering dedication to working hand in glove with local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement at the rank-and- file and leadership levels. His commitment to the reciprocity of access-to-advise is essential to combating the most serious security and policing challenges ahead. We are certain Mr. Patel’s engagement will result in vital and effective partnerships nationwide to protect communities large and small,” Donahue wrote. The sheriff group’s leader also took direct aim at policies affecting law enforcement that were rolled out under the Biden administration, which he said has “undermined the rule of law and burdened our nation with great risk and vulnerability.” GOP ATTORNEYS GENERAL OFFER SUPPORT FOR TRUMP FBI PICK KASH PATEL, URGE SENATORS TO DO THE SAME “Equally detrimental are the border policies that permit unchecked access to our homeland. These two factors have sadly but predictably granted domestic and international criminals unprecedented opportunity to victimize or endanger the citizens and residents of our nation. As a result, countless communities across America are under siege. Through the exploitation of these vulnerabilities, complex criminal and terror schemes are taking hold and flourishing. The blind spot created by inadequate border control and law enforcement policies has facilitated criminal activity that falls under multiple jurisdictions and therefore demands a robust and coordinated response,” he wrote to the senators. WHO IS KASH PATEL? TRUMP’S PICK TO LEAD THE FBI HAS LONG HISTORY VOWING TO BUST UP ‘DEEP STATE’ The sheriff continued that local law enforcement agencies want to work more closely with federal leaders in order to combat the infiltration of cartels and organized crime groups in the U.S., but have “been denied direct unfiltered access to the President” in the last four years. “As a result, there is a perception within law enforcement and the public that our national leaders do not comprehend the ground truth about criminal trends and lack the will, policy tools, and resources to thwart the criminal activities undermining the security of our nation,” he wrote. “Our federal law enforcement hierarchy, armed with knowledge gained through local collaboration, must be heard by the decisionmakers in Washington. In this time of uncertainty, it is critical the Federal Bureau of Investigation be led by someone who has the complete confidence of the President,” he continued.
‘Winds of change’: Republicans jubilant after speedy certification of Trump’s election victory
Congressional Republicans were buoyant on Monday after lawmakers gathered to certify President-elect Donald Trump’s White House victory. “It went great. It went smooth. This is a textbook transition of power. This is how democracy is supposed to operate,” House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., told Fox News Digital. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., shared praise for both Republican and Democratic leaders who led the largely ceremonial event. “It was really neat to see the certification go smoothly. I thought Vice President Harris handled it well. It was neat to have JD Vance in the chamber too, as a sitting senator at the time, but getting ready to become the vice president of the United States so that, you know, it’s very historic,” he told reporters. A USER’S MANUAL TO CERTIFYING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Like Comer, House GOP Policy Committee Chair Kevin Hern, R-Okla., remarked on how calm the process was. “Everybody accepts the fact that President Trump won the Electoral College and the popular vote. So there really isn’t much of a denial by the Democrats, that he didn’t have a mandate to do his agenda. And we’re going to make sure we help him get it done,” Hern told Fox News Digital. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said Monday marked “a great day in American history.” “We have no time to waste. We’ve got to get right to work immediately, ASAP, as soon as humanly possible,” Mace said. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, emphasized Republicans’ commanding victory in the November elections, telling Fox News Digital, “It was a clear mandate from the voters, and we now need to get to work delivering on that mandate.” HARRIS TO OVERSEE CERTIFICATION OF HER DEFEAT TO TRUMP IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: ‘SACRED OBLIGATION’ First-term lawmaker Rep. Mike Haridolopos, R-Fla., said he was excited to now begin executing the GOP’s agenda and remarked on the snow storm that shut down much of Washington, D.C. save for Capitol Hill on Monday. “I think we’re all excited to get started with the Republican trifecta,” he said. “I’m so excited about it and glad it’s behind us. It took a snow day to make it happen, but we are definitely here and ready to go to work.” Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., who is also just beginning his first term in Congress, called the process “fascinating.” “It was really great to see the process today. It was an honor to be there, and I was just privileged to be a part of it,” Sheehy said. “And the snow storm, I think, is symbolic — winds of change are coming. We’re gonna get this country back on track.” House and Senate lawmakers gathered for a joint session of Congress to certify Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, who was constitutionally bound to preside over the proceedings. The orderly process was a stark contrast to the scene in the House chamber four years ago when rioters protesting the results of the 2020 election halted proceedings and forced lawmakers into hiding for several hours. Unlike four years ago, when lawmakers were forced to finish certification hours after midnight, Monday’s event was wrapped inside an hour. No Democrats raised objections to Trump’s victory, unlike 2016, which saw several progressives cast doubt on his win. “I think that just showed that America is really ready for… a new page and a new start,” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said of the certification. “You saw that, at least on the Republican side, that we were pretty excited about the results for our elections.” And Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., another Florida lawmaker and ally of Trump, told Fox News Digital, “We’re happy that we had no issue with certification, no contesting of the certification. And everyone’s very happy that we have Donald J. Trump and JD Vance in the White House, in the Naval Observatory, and we’re ready to make America great again.”
Donald Trump Jr takes personal trip to Greenland after president-elect floats purchasing country
Donald Trump Jr. is expected to travel to Greenland Tuesday after his father, President-elect Trump, signaled an interest in U.S. “ownership and control” of the country, Fox News Digital has learned. A source familiar with Trump Jr.’s plans told Fox News Digital that the president-elect’s son, who is traveling in a personal capacity, is set to arrive in Nuuk, Greenland, midday Tuesday for meetings with locals, to visit cultural sites and more. “As someone who has traveled to some fascinating places across the globe as an outdoorsman, I’m excited to stop into Greenland for a little bit of fun this week,” Donald Trump Jr. told Fox News Digital. A source familiar told Fox News Digital that Trump Jr. is “popping in for a quick day-long trip to shoot some fun video content for podcasting.” A USER’S MANUAL TO CERTIFYING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION “He will not be meeting with any government officials or political figures,” the source told Fox News Digital. The trip comes as President-elect Trump seeks to buy the mineral-rich, geographically important territory. American interest in Greenland dates back to the 1800s. JOHNSON REVEALS TRUMP’S WISHES ON DELIVERING HUGE POLICY OVERHAUL IN CLOSED-DOOR MEETING In 1867, the State Department explored buying both Greenland and Iceland, recognizing their strategic importance, Fox News reported. After World War II, Denmark turned down a $100 million offer from President Harry Truman for the island. Acquiring the land would mark the largest expansion of American territory in history, topping the Louisiana Purchase. But Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede said last week that the country is not interested. “Greenland is ours,” he said. “We are not for sale, and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom.”
Mental health disorders attributed to more service member hospital stays than any other ailment: DoD
Mental health disorders are on the rise in the military, now accounting for more hospitalizations than any other ailment, according to a new Defense Department health report. Diagnoses of mental health disorders are up 40% over the past five years, from 2019 to 2023, according to a Defense Health Agency report. It found that anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) doubled over the five-year period. In 2023, active-duty service members experiencing a mental health disorder made up 54.8% of hospital bed stays, more than every other affliction combined. From 2019 through 2023, 541,672 active-duty service members across all branches were diagnosed with at least one mental health disorder, according to the report. About 47% of those were diagnosed with more than one mental health disorder. In 2023, there were 1.3 million U.S. active duty troops. The sobering report follows the New Year’s Day vehicle attack in New Orleans that killed 14 people, revealing that the suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was an Army veteran with multiple deployments. That same day in Las Vegas, Col. Matthew Livelsberger, an active member of the Army Green Berets, shot himself in the head in a Cybertruck full of explosives. PRESIDENT BIDEN AWARDS MEDAL OF HONOR TO SEVEN ARMY VETERANS “As service members continue to experience increased rates of mental health disorders after the COVID-19 pandemic, help-seeking behaviors to address psychological as well as emotional well-being should be prioritized to maintain force readiness,” the report read. The Pentagon could not immediately be reached for comment on what’s behind the uptick in diagnoses and whether U.S. forces are mentally prepared to go into combat if needed. Female service members, those who are younger and those in the Army, were most likely to be diagnosed. The Navy led all other branches in depressive disorders, bipolar disorders and personality disorders. Active duty female service members were diagnosed with PTSD twice as often as their male counterparts. The medical data came from records accessed via the Defense Medical Surveillance System and Theater Medical Data Store. It analyzed ambulance encounters, hospitalization or outpatient visits to a psychiatric facility, and other factors to define a mental health diagnosis. Meanwhile, military suicides ticked up again last year, following a dark trend the Pentagon has struggled to combat. HERE’S HOW MANY US SERVICE MEMBERS ARE SPENDING THE HOLIDAYS AWAY FROM HOME DEPLOYED OVERSEAS Overall, there were 523 reported suicides in 2023, the most recent data available, up from 493 in 2022. The number of active-duty troops who died by suicide increased to 363 from 331 the previous year, up 12%. Suicide is by far the biggest killer of service members, killing more than training accidents, illnesses, homicides or combat, according to the Defense Department (DOD). In addition to the sheer number, the rate of suicides per 100,000 also went up last year. Suicide deaths by active-duty service members have been on the rise since 2011. Another troubling sign from the data is how many suicide victims sought help: 67% had a primary care encounter in the 90 days before their death; 34% had been to an outpatient mental health center; 8% had been discharged from an in-patient mental health facility; and 18% were on psychotropic medication at the time of their death. Within a year prior to their death, 44% of military suicide victims reported intimate relationship problems, and 42% reported a behavioral health diagnosis.
RFK Jr. ‘wrong’ about vaccinations, GOP senator says
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said during an interview on “Fox News Sunday” that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is “wrong” on the issue of vaccinations. President-elect Donald Trump tapped Kennedy to serve as Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary. Cassidy, a gastroenterologist who is currently serving Louisianans in the Senate, is the incoming chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. TOP GOP SENATORS CALL FOR REFORM, ‘CONSEQUENCES’ IN WAKE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ‘LEADERSHIP FAILURE’ The senator, who noted that he is looking forward to meeting with Kennedy in the coming week, said that he agrees with Kennedy on some issues but disagrees with him on others. While Cassidy described ultra-processed food as a problem, he said Kennedy is “wrong” about vaccinations. Fox News Digital inquired about whether Cassidy plans to vote against confirming Kennedy to HHS due to the disagreement on vaccines. “Cassidy does not discuss his votes prior to meetings with the nominees and the Senate process playing itself out,” a Cassidy spokesman said in a statement. “Cassidy explained these are topics he wants to discuss with RFK Jr in his meeting with him this week and he looks forward to having a good dialogue with him.” DIET AND NUTRITION EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON HOW RFK JR’S NOMINATION COULD IMPACT HOW WE EAT Reached by Fox News Digital on Monday, Kennedy declined to comment on Cassidy’s assertion that he is “wrong” on the vaccine issue. But Kennedy has previously said that he does not want to block people from getting vaccines. ELON MUSK ADMITS TO TAKING CONTROVERSIAL WEIGHT LOSS DRUG PREVIOUSLY OPPOSED BY RFK JR. “Bottom line: I’m not going to take anyone’s vaccines away from them. I just want to be sure every American knows the safety profile, the risk profile, and the efficacy of each vaccine. That’s it,” he declared in a tweet last year.
ICE nabs illegal immigrant charged with sex crimes in blue city, after release from jail
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested a Dominican illegal immigrant charged with sex crimes and kidnapping in Boston, after he was released from local custody despite a request by the agency to hand him over. In a statement, ICE said it had arrested Emilio Jose Pena-Casilla, a 46-year-old, who is charged with assault to rape, kidnapping, two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or older, and intimidation of an official, witness, or juror, was arrested Dec. 17 in Boston. Pena-Casilla entered the U.S. illegally near Eagle Pass, Texas, in January 2023, and was enrolled in the Alternatives to Detention program. Under that program, migrants are monitored by a GPS tracking device or check in via an app. He was removed from the program a month later. ‘SHEER INSANITY’: CONSERVATIVE WATCHDOG PUTS ‘SANCTUARY’ OFFICIALS ON NOTICE AHEAD OF TRUMP DEPORTATION PUSH In July this year, he was arraigned in Massachusetts. ICE says its Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Boston issued a detainer, but it was ignored by the district court and he was released on GPS on bail. ICE would eventually track him down in December. “Emilio Jose Pena-Casilla stands accused of some very serious offenses against a Massachusetts resident,” acting Field Office Director Patricia Hyde of ERO Boston said in a statement. “We hold a sacred duty to protect the residents of our communities, and we will continue to do so by apprehending and removing egregious noncitizen offenders from our neighborhoods. Today, another victim in Massachusetts no longer needs to fear their predator.” Boston is one of a number of “sanctuary” cities that limit or forbid cooperation by local law enforcement with ICE. Supporters of sanctuary policies say they allow illegal immigrants to cooperate with local law enforcement, but opponents say they result in the release of criminal illegal immigrants back onto the streets. Boston City Council recently doubled down on its sanctuary policies, voting in favor of a resolution to limit ICE cooperation and to ban police from keeping migrants in custody for possible deportation unless there is a criminal warrant. The resolution adopted by the council states that “proposals for mass deportations represent a direct attack on Boston’s immigrant families, and threaten to tear communities apart.” TRUMP’S INCOMING BORDER CZAR HAILS MEETING WITH MAYOR ERIC ADAMS: ‘NYC IS ABOUT TO GET A LOT SAFER’ Sanctuary policies have been back in the spotlight with the approaching Trump administration, which has promised to ramp up deportations and launch a historic operation to potentially remove millions of illegal immigrants. A number of Democratic officials in states, including Massachusetts, have said they will not cooperate in the deportation push. President-elect Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, has hinted there could be legal consequences for those who get in the way of the operation. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE Recently, America First Legal notified nearly 250 officials in jurisdictions that limit or forbid local law enforcement cooperation with ICE that there could be legal consequences for interfering with the feds or for concealing illegal immigrants. “We have identified your jurisdiction as a sanctuary jurisdiction that is violating federal law. Such lawlessness subjects you and your subordinates to significant risk of criminal and civil liability. Accordingly, we are sending this letter to put you on notice of this risk and insist that you comply with our nation’s laws,” the letter says.