Matthew T. Albence, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director, held a White House press briefing Thursday to explain how sanctuary policies threaten public safety and called on the public to hold their local lawmakers accountable.

The briefing made clear that local jurisdictions across the U.S. that refuse to cooperate with ICE are complicit in the crimes committed by aliens who ICE could have otherwise been arrested and removed.

Under federal law, ICE has the authority to lodge immigration detainers with law enforcement partners who have custody of individuals arrested on criminal charges and who ICE has probable cause to believe are removable aliens.

(Hear directly from Acting ICE Director Matthew Albence, courtesy of Fox Business News and YouTube. Posted on Sep 26, 2019.)

The detainer form asks the other law enforcement agency to notify ICE in advance of release and to maintain custody of the alien for a brief period so that ICE can take custody of that person in a safe and secure setting upon release from that agency’s custody.

Across the United States, several jurisdictions refuse to honor detainers and instead choose to willingly release criminal offenders back into their local communities where they are free to offend.

Acting Director Albence made clear that state and local jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement not only betray their duty to protect public safety, but force ICE to be more visible in those areas.

“As law enforcement professionals, it is frustrating to see senseless acts of violence and other criminal activity happen in our communities, knowing ICE could have prevented them with just a little cooperation,” said Albence.

“To the public, who want to live and raise your families in safe neighborhoods, we ask you to hold your lawmakers accountable before you, or someone you love, is unnecessarily victimized by a criminal ICE could have removed from the country.”

Below are some examples of the risks posed by laws and policies restricting cooperation with ICE:

• In September 2019, ICE officers arrested Jose Alejandro Lopez-Gutierrez, 56, in Colorado.

  • Lopez-Gutierrez, a Mexican national, was arrested and booked into the Boulder County (CO) Jail after an arrest for felony sex assault on a child.

  • ICE lodged a detainer on Lopez-Gutierrez in May 2019, but the Boulder County Jail released him from custody three days later without notifying ICE.

  • He has previously been removed on one prior occasion.

• In January 2019, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office (NC) arrested Angel Diaz-Vera, 40, a Mexican national, for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).

  • ICE lodged a detainer, but he was released from local custody.

  • In June 2019, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office again arrested Diaz-Vera for two counts of assault on a female, assault by strangulation, assault with a deadly weapon, and DWI.

  • He again was released from Mecklenburg County despite ICE issuing another detainer and remains at large.

• In September 2017, Jose Ramirez-Soto, 43, of Mexico, was arrested and booked into King County Jail (Washington) for child molestation charges.

  • In 2018, he was convicted on a sexual assault charge (4th degree).

  • ICE lodged a detainer, but Ramirez-Soto was released. Ramirez-Soto was again arrested and booked in the King County Jail in July 2019 for harassment and threats to kill.

  • ICE again lodged a detainer, but he was released and remains at-large.

  • He has been previously removed from the United States twice.

• In July 2019, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (OR) arrested Alejandro Maldonado-Hernandez, 30, of Mexico, for manslaughter, assault and reckless driving.

  • ICE lodged a detainer with the Washington County Jail, but he was released in August 2019 and remains at-large.

(Since Mecklenburg County Sheriff Gary McFadden took office, he’s made it clear he will not honor federal detainers. Courtesy of WCNC and YouTube. Posted on Aug 16, 2019.)

While ICE conducts daily at-large arrests of criminal aliens, this week, officers also focused on people who had been released from uncooperative jurisdictions.

Of the nearly 1,300 at-large arrests made this week, ICE officers apprehended 199 people who could have been arrested at a jail if the agency’s detainers had been honored.

Of all the aliens taken into custody:

• 3 had convictions for murder or manslaughter;

• 100 had convictions for sex crimes – nearly half (47) had convictions for sex crimes involving a minor;

• 70 had convictions for drug crimes; and,

• 328 had convictions for driving under the influence

(Mayor Lori Lightfoot joined protesters outside the ICE office in Chicago Thursday afternoon after the agency`s new head in the region criticized the city for its sanctuary policies. Courtesy of WGN News and YouTube. Posted on Sep 26, 2019.)

“It is past time to put aside all the political rhetoric and listen to the facts – and the fact is, people are being hurt and victimized every day because of jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with ICE,” said Acting Director Albence.

While making clear the consequences of uncooperative jurisdictions, Albence also commended law enforcement partners who do work with ICE because it is much safer for all involved if ICE officers take custody in the controlled environment of another law enforcement agency.

Approximately 70 percent of the arrests ICE makes happen after ICE is notified about an alien being released from local jails or state prisons.

In fiscal year 2019, ICE has lodged more than 160,000 detainers with local law enforcement agencies.

Acting Director Albence reiterated that ICE is sworn to uphold the federal immigration laws enacted by Congress and that the agency will carry out its sworn mission, with or without the cooperation of local law enforcement agencies.

“It is my sincere desire to work with local partners to whatever extent they are willing to work with this agency in what should be our shared goal to ensure public safety,” he said.

“Uncooperative jurisdictions should be on notice that as long as criminal offenders are being released, they should get used to seeing a lot more ICE at-large enforcement activity in their communities.”

Nationally, approximately 90 percent of all people arrested by ICE during fiscal year 2019 either had a criminal conviction, a pending criminal charge, had illegally re-entered the United States after being previously removed (a federal felony), or were an immigration fugitive subject to a final order of removal.

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US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit (HRVWCU) Honored in 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards

• ‘Excellence in Homeland Security’

• Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit (HRVWCU)

The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is specifically designed to honor distinguished government and vendor solutions that deliver enhanced value, benefit and intelligence to end users in a variety of government, homeland security and public safety vertical markets.

Over 130 distinguished guests representing National, State and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms, gathered from across North America, Europe and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields which included:

• The Department of Homeland Security
• The Federal Protective Service (FPS)
• Argonne National Laboratory
• The Department of Homeland Security
• The Department of Justice
• The Security Exchange Commission Office of Personnel Management
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Viasat, Hanwha Techwin, Lenel, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, Verint, Canon U.S.A., BriefCam, Pivot3, Milestone Systems, Allied Universal, Ameristar Perimeter Security and More!

The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.

Proud Sponsors of the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program include ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, and Desktop Alert.

Time is Running Out to Receive the Recognition Your Organization Deserves!

Final nominations are being accepted Today, for the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.

Eligible “Government Excellence Award” Nominations are Complimentary, in Appreciation for Service.

Comprehensive List of Categories Include:

Access Control/ Identification	Personal/Protective Equipment	Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism
Perimeter Barrier/ Deterrent System	Interagency Interdiction Operation	Cloud Computing/Storage Solution
Facial/IRIS Recognition	Body Worn Video Product	Cyber Security
Video Surveillance/VMS	Mobile Technology	Anti-Malware
Audio Analytics	Disaster Preparedness	ID Management
Thermal/Infrared Camera	Mass Notification System	Fire & Safety
Metal/Weapon Detection	Rescue Operations	Critical Infrastructure
License Plate Recognition	Detection Products	And Many Others!

Don’t see a Direct Hit for your Product, Agency or Organization?

Submit your category recommendation for consideration to Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.

Why the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program?

The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.

American Security Today’s comprehensive Annual Homeland Security Awards Program is organized to recognize the most distinguished vendors of physical, IT, port security, law enforcement, and first responders, in acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to ‘Keep our Nation Secure, One City at a Time.’

Acknowledge the Most Distinguished Vendors of Physical, IT, Cyber, Port of Entry Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Perimeter Protection, Communications as well as Federal, State, County and Municipal Government Agencies in Acknowledgment of Their Outstanding Efforts to: ‘Keep our Nation Safe – One City at a Time.’

Please see our 2019 List of Categories which include a broad spectrum of opportunities for your organization to compete – and whether you represent a Homeland Physical Security Vendor, a Technology Security Vendor, or a Federal, State or Municipal Agency, we urge you to take advantage of this exclusive opportunity to Compete and Distinguish Your Achievements from your competitors.

Time is Running Out to Enter the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards and Receive the Recognition your Organization Deserves at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.

(Learn More about the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program from Mike Madsen, Publisher, during an impromptu interview following the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Ceremony at ISC East, on November 14th, 2018. Courtesy of AST and YouTube.)

2018 Government Excellence Award Winners in the ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program

The following Government Agencies were recognized in the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards:

• Argonne National Laboratory, Modified Infrastructure Survey Tool (MIST)

• Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency – DARPA, Subterranean (SubT) Challenge

(Learn About the DARPA Subterranean Challenge working with multidisciplinary teams from around the world to compete in the development of the autonomy, perception, networking, and mobility technologies necessary to map explore and search underground networks in unpredictable conditions. Courtesy of DARPAtv and YouTube.)

• Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Project Safe Childhood

• Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Project Safe Neighborhoods Program

• Department of Justice (DOJ) Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) Office of Personnel Management, Federal Risk Mgmt Process Training (FedRMPTP)

• DHS Federal Protective Service, Modified Infrastructure Survey Tool (MIST)

• DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK)

(The Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) is a gps communications tool that runs on a mobile device. It improves situational awareness by allowing users to know where their mission partners are located, regardless of affiliation, improves communications through a variety of applications and was successfully used in 2017 Hurricane operations in Houston and Puerto Rico. Courtesy of the DHS Science and Technology Directorate and YouTube.)

• DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), Enhanced Dynamic Geo-Social Environ (EDGE) Virtual Online Training for First Responders

(DHS S&T’s Enhanced Dynamic Geo-Social Environment (EDGE) virtual training platform provides a safe, immersive environment where first responders, and now educators, can hone their skills and prepare for a multitude of incident responses. Built on the same video gaming platforms as popular titles like Fortnite, EDGE was intentionally designed to be easily accessed, easily used, and easily integrated into agencies’ existing training protocols. Courtesy of the DHS Science and Technology Directorate and YouTube.)

• DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), Flood Apex Program Flood Sensors

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),Violent Crimes against Children (VCAC) program

(Learn About the FBI VCAC Program, and hear from Special Agent Danielle Messineo, who works in the Crimes Against Children division, trying to prevent future victims by giving presentations to schoolchildren. Courtesy of USA Network and YouTube.)

• International Association of Counterterrorism and Security Professionals (IACP), IACSP Training and Technology

• Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S), United States Multi-Service, Multi-Agency Task Force

• Pentagon Force Protection Agency, Detection & Emergency Response to envelopes containing the deadly poison ricin at a Pentagon mail screening facility

(Learn About the Joint Interagency Task Force South on Key West, Florida, a multi-agency, international alliance whose mission is to cover 42 million square miles of territory primarily in Central and South America to stem the flow of illegal drugs and to disrupt and dismantle sophisticated narco-trafficking networks. Much of that work is carried out on the high seas. Courtesy of Doug Brumbaugh and YouTube.)

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CBP Entry/Exit Program 

• US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit (HRVWCU)

(U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operates the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit (HRVWCU) within the National Security Investigations Division (NSID). Preceded by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, HSI has more than 30 years of experience in successfully investigating human rights violators. The unit conducts investigations focused on human rights violations in an effort to prevent the United States from becoming a safe haven to those individuals who engage in the commission of war crimes, genocide, torture and other forms of serious human rights abuses from conflicts around the globe. When foreign war crimes suspects, persecutors and human rights abusers are identified within U.S. borders, the unit utilizes its powers and authorities to the fullest extent of the law to investigate, prosecute and, whenever possible, remove any such offenders from the United States. Courtesy of ICE and YouTube.)

Individuals Recognized for ‘Excellence in Homeland Security’ in the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program are as follows:

• Edward Reinhold, Deputy Assistant Director, FBI (Ret)

• Joel McNelly, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

• Matt Quillen, Bristol Virginia Police Department

• Stanley I. White, Counterintelligence Advisor, the International Association for Counterrorism & Security Professionals (IACSP)

• Thomas Homan, Acting Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) (Ret)

• Thomas O’Connor, President of the FBI Agents Association

2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program Industry Experts Include

Ameristar Perimeter Security, ATI Systems (Acoustic Technology Inc.), Attivo Networks, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., Entrust Datacard, FLIR Systems, Hanwha Techwin, HID Global,

ISS – Intelligent Security Systems, Ivanti, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, Milestone Systems, Lenel, LRAD Corporation, Milestone Systems,

Orolia, NICE, Pivot3, Rave Mobile Safety, Royal Holdings, Senstar Corporation, Smiths Detection, SolarWinds, Verint, Viasat, and More!

For a complete list of award winners, click here.

2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon

AST focuses on New and Evolving Security Threats at All Levels of Homeland Security and Public Safety for personnel who are on the front lines of protecting our communities, cities and nation.The highlight of the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program will be the Awards Presentation Luncheon at ISC East at the Javits Convention Center on Wednesday, November 20, 2019.

AST reaches both the private and public experts, essential to meeting today’s growing security challenges.

For Luncheon Sponsorship Opportunities and More, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com or call 732.233.8119 (mobile) or 646-450-6027 (office).