NYC prosecutors deny directing staff to downgrade immigrant charges

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 22:38 · Archive

New York's top prosecutors declined to answer questions about allegations they directed staff to reduce charges against illegal immigrants to avoid deportation.

A House Judiciary Committee report has alleged that New York's top prosecutors directed staff to downgrade charges against illegal immigrants to protect them from deportation. The report names state Attorney General Letitia James and city District Attorneys Melinda Katz and Eric Gonzalez as being involved in the practice.

According to the report, Katz's office employs an 'Immigration Specialist' to negotiate 'immigration-safe' plea deals and reduce past convictions. The report also cites a 2022 memorandum from Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg instructing prosecutors to seek dispositions avoiding deportation consequences for misdemeanours and non-carceral felonies. Katz reportedly directed prosecutors to 'exercise extreme caution' when dealing with charges against illegal immigrants, advising staff not to be 'caught up in the label of felonies, misdemeanours'. The Bronx DA's office reportedly trains prosecutors in 'Immigration-Conscious Plea Bargaining', including offering non-deportable offences and avoiding aggravated felony charges.

When a reporter asked the three officials directly whether they had ordered prosecutors to downgrade charges, they declined to respond. Katz shrugged and smiled without answering. After the press conference, they refused to engage further with questions about the House investigation.

How it is being reported

• House Judiciary report accuses NYC DAs of downgrading charges to protect illegal immigrants from deportationLetitia James, Melinda Katz, and Eric Gonzalez faced pointed questions about a House Judiciary Committee report on immigration-safe plea bargains.Fox News · 29 Oct, 22:18
• NYC’s DAs go awkwardly quiet when asked about claims they told staff to downgrade charges against illegal immigrantsNew York's top elected attorneys were like deer in headlights when pressed about a congressional investigation claiming they'd directed staff to downgrade illegal immigrants' charges to avoid deportation.New York Post · 29 Oct, 17:36

In this story: Letitia James · Melinda Katz · Eric Gonzalez · Alvin Bragg · Darcel Clark · House Judiciary Committee · New York

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log