Travis DA takes steps to stop deportations of crime victims, witnesses - MyStatesman.com

Highlights

Moore is asking ICE to delay deportation proceedings until criminal cases have been adjudicated.

Federal immigration officials say they will evaluate those requests on a case-by-case basis, Moore said.

Travis County prosecutors will begin immediately issuing letters to victims and witnesses of crimes who might be in the country illegally or could be subject to deportation in hopes of possibly shielding them from removal.

District Attorney Margaret Moore said the move is intended to make sure her office can resolve criminal cases before a person critical to an ongoing case is deported.

The letter, which can be given to any other law enforcement agency, including the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, declares them “a crime victim and/or essential witness in a felony case currently pending in Travis County. The Travis County District Attorney considers this individual necessary to the prosecution” of a case, it reads.

The office also will give those victims and witnesses names and contact information of agencies that provide low-cost legal services for people with immigration issues.

As part of the state’s battle over sanctuary cities and immigration, Moore has said that she wants to make sure felony cases are resolved before a person is removed from the country. She is asking ICE to delay those proceedings until the criminal case has been adjudicated.

“My idea to do this letter arose out of our conversations when I met with ICE officials,” Moore said. “They assured us it is not ICE’s policy to interfere with criminal prosecutions, and this is our way of giving some sort of notice to ICE that a person they have apprehended is a victim or witness.”

Federal immigration officials have not guaranteed that they will honor the letters, Moore said, but that they will evaluate each person on a case-by-case basis.

“At least this way they will know,” she said. “They will have something from us.”

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