A gaggle of Westchester County politicians rallied on the eve of Election Day to denounce New York State’s “sanctuary” standing following the arrest of an unlawful migrant in a triple upstate capturing.
Talking exterior the Westchester County Jail, the group blamed the controversial designation for permitting Chilean nationwide Fernando Andres Jimenez Meza to stay free for years after a drunken driving arrest — regardless of being sought by federal immigration authorities.
Final month, Jimenez Meza allegedly shot his girlfriend and her two teen sons of their Somers house, killing one of many boys earlier than main cops on a manhunt.
“The suspect on this horrific crime… may have and will have been deported way back after his arrest for drunk driving in Yonkers in 2018,” US Rep. Mike Lawler instructed reporters.
“He ought to have been handed over to ICE,” Lawler stated. “As an alternative, Westchester County sanctuary standing prevents legislation enforcement from coordinating with federal immigration authorities. In consequence, a violent felony was protected against deportation and remained in our neighborhood.”
State Assemblyman Matt Slater, who represents a portion of Northern Westchester, known as the horrific case “utterly unacceptable.”
“Each minute that passes that we don’t take motion as a state to place an finish to those insurance policies we’re creating extra victims,” Slater stated. “It’s time that we repeal the sanctuary insurance policies in New York Metropolis, the sanctuary insurance policies in Westchester, and the sanctuary polices that [former] Gov. [Andrew] Cuomo applied in New York State.”
Jimenez Meza, 40, entered the US illegally on Aug. 11, 2004, in Tecate, California, utilizing the identify Erik Melendez-Arellano, however was taken into custody and voluntarily deported.
However he re-entered the nation and on Sept. 11, 2018, was arrested in Yonkers and charged with drunken driving. He was launched after paying a $500 fantastic, based on information and sources.
Sources stated he was additionally charged with assault in some unspecified time in the future however that case is sealed.
Jimenez Meza is now charged with capturing his girlfriend, Christina Raimondi, and her two teen sons on Oct. 29 at their townhouse on Route 6 in Somers.
One boy, 15-year-old Michael, died, whereas his accused killer led cops on a large manhunt earlier than he was nabbed in Putnam County.
The case sparked outrage over the state’s sanctuary metropolis standing, which consists of a vow to not cooperate with federal immigration authorities in holding migrants wished for deportation.
Albany adopted the coverage as did New York Metropolis — and Westchester County, critics cost.
Handed in 2018, the county’s Immigrant Safety Act bars native authorities from offering federal officers with info that features a person’s nationwide origin and different elements.
But, county officers contend it doesn’t represent a sanctuary coverage.
“There isn’t any sanctuary for Fernando Jimenez,” Westchester County Govt George Latimer stated throughout a briefing on Monday. “He’ll face accountability for his actions. Anybody who says in any other case isn’t telling you the reality.”
However pols who rallied on the jail on Monday declare Jimenez Meza ought to have been behind bars.
“Why is that this occurring in Westchester County?” requested state Sen. Rob Rolison. “Why are insurance policies which can be being superior from the county legislature and signed by this county government impacting their public security?
“This particular person may commit against the law in Putnam, Dutchess, Orange — anyplace, as a result of the was he was right here and shouldn’t have been,” he stated.
Yonkers police didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark concerning Jimenez Meza’s launch after his 2018 arrest.
