Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, said on May 22 that public safety risks in North Carolina communities are rising due to sanctuary policies he said hinder federal immigration enforcement against convicted criminal illegal aliens.
The statement followed a Department of Homeland Security release on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests during Police Week, which highlighted the case of Nicolas Ramirez-Garcia, a Mexican national convicted in Beaufort County of attempted second-degree forcible rape.
“A Mexican illegal alien convicted of attempted second-degree forcible rape in Beaufort County. Walking free until ICE finally finished the job North Carolina sanctuary jurisdictions refused to do. How many more North Carolina families have to suffer before the political class ends this deadly sanctuary scam?” Cortes said.
The DHS release also listed ICE arrests during the same period involving individuals convicted of crimes including attempted rape, murder, sex trafficking, and child sex offenses.
Several North Carolina counties are identified as sanctuary jurisdictions by the Center for Immigration Studies, including Buncombe, Chatham, Durham, Forsyth, Guilford, Mecklenburg, Orange, Wake, and Watauga counties. The organization defines sanctuary jurisdictions as places with policies or practices that limit cooperation with ICE detainers or immigration enforcement.
Cortes is the founder and president of the League of American Workers. He is known for his focus on trade and immigration issues through his organization and previously served as a spokesman and senior adviser for Donald Trump’s presidential campaigns.