The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has criticized Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne for releasing Jesus Romero-Hernandez, an illegal immigrant with a history of violence, in Ithaca, New York. Romero-Hernandez, a 27-year-old Mexican national, had been deported six times between July and September 2016. He pleaded guilty to a state assault charge and was sentenced to time served. Despite an outstanding federal arrest warrant for illegal reentry, the sheriff’s office released him on January 28, 2025.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove III criticized the release, stating that it endangered federal agents who later apprehended Romero-Hernandez under hazardous conditions. Bove emphasized that the DOJ will not tolerate actions that impede federal operations designed to enhance national safety.
The Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office defended its actions, asserting that it acted in accordance with local and state policies. The department refuted the DOJ’s claims, stating that there was no interference with federal immigration enforcement efforts and labeling the assertion that the sheriff endangered law enforcement officers as false and offensive.
This incident highlights the ongoing conflict between federal authorities and local jurisdictions with sanctuary policies. Ithaca, the county seat of Tompkins County, has maintained sanctuary policies since 2017, limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The DOJ, under the Trump administration, has intensified its stance against such policies, arguing that they compromise public safety and hinder federal efforts to enforce immigration laws.
The DOJ has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Romero-Hernandez’s release, considering potential prosecution of local officials who fail to comply with federal immigration enforcement. This move aligns with the administration’s broader strategy to challenge sanctuary jurisdictions and enforce federal immigration laws more stringently.
