Trump Administration Declines to Release Information on Immigration Enforcement

After President Donald Trump took office in January, federal immigration agents increased the number of requests they made to local police and jails to keep people in their custody. But researchers who track this data say the government has stopped providing information on what happened to those immigrants.

In March, the latest month available, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement prepared 13,971 "detainers," according to Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse in Syracuse. That's 31.7 percent more than in January. But the number is still lower than in March 2014, when former President Barack Obama's administration was relying heavily on this type of requests.

The detainers ask local police and jails to keep immigrants in their custody for up to 48 extra hours so they can be transferred to federal custody and potentially deported.

Of requests received in February and March, California received the most, according to the clearinghouse. New York ranked fifth, with 1,070. Of  that number, counties declined to honor 21 percent and complied with 30 percent. ICE did not know what happened to the rest. Sanctuary cities like New York were most likely to refuse the requests. 

But after March, the clearinghouse said the government stopped providing the data and any other information about why immigrants were wanted, and whether they were actually deported.

"They're now refusing to provide any information about whether the individuals have been arrested or convicted of anything," said Sue Long, a Syracuse University professor and co-founder of the records clearinghouse.

According to New York City's own data, the NYPD has not honored any of the 724 requests from ICE through August 22, while the Department of Corrections honored 13 out of 285 detainer requests as of the end of July. 

"Our policies ensure immigrant families that don't pose a threat to public safety are not needlessly torn apart, creating an atmosphere of distrust with local law enforcement," City Hall spokesman Seth Stein told WNYC.

According to its policy, New York City hands over immigrants in its custody only if they're convicted of one of 170 serious crimes, or if they are on a terrorist watch list.

Researchers at the clearinghouse in Syracuse have been monitoring ICE data for years through Freedom of Information Act requests. But after Trump took office, Long said ICE claimed it did not have the data in the format they requested.

"I'm just amazed that they are unwilling to do it," she said, referring to Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration. "It seems that they would be anxious to show the results of their efforts."

Historically, Long said most immigrants who are deported are not apprehended through detainer requests but through other means.

ICE spokeswoman Sarah Rodriquez said she couldn't comment because of ongoing litigation.