CHICAGO, IL - A violent illegal alien felon and former La Raza gang member previously released onto the streets by the Chicago Police Department was picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Chicago on a federal arrest warrant last month, according to an ICE news release.
Luis Manuel Saucedo-Cardenas, 40, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, was subject to a federal criminal warrant for illegal reentry issued on April 29. While the Chicago PD confirmed the warrant on May 1, the agency refused to transfer custody of Cardenas to ICE Chicago despite multiple requests due to Chicago’s status as a sanctuary city and Illinois’ status as a sanctuary state. Instead, the violent felon was released into the community to offend again.
“The Chicago Police Department knowingly jeopardized the public’s safety by releasing a dangerous suspect with a federal criminal arrest warrant. Politics aside, there is no excuse for sanctuary politicians to threaten the well-being of the communities they purport to serve,” said ICE Chicago Acting Field Office Director Tammy Marich.
Cardenas' rap sheet includes multiple arrests for assault, controlled substance violations, and carjacking, as well as prison time for wire fraud. Cardenas was previously removed by ICE in 2022.
“The safest way to arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens from our streets is by lodging immigration detainers against them,” ICE wrote. “Because sanctuary cities refuse to work with ICE, criminal illegal aliens are released from jails into American communities to commit more crimes.”
ICE noted that in non-sanctuary cities, “state and local law enforcement officials honor immigration detainer requests; they transfer these criminal illegal aliens to ICE for detention and removal.”
“When sanctuary politicians ignore ICE detainers, they protect criminal illegal aliens at the expense of American citizens. These are often aliens previously convicted of offenses like rape, murder, and drug trafficking,” the release said.
Crimes or suspicious activity can be reported by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423, or completing the online tip form found here.
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