CHICAGO — Federal immigration officers arrested a 40-year-old illegal immigrant and former La Raza street gang member on a federal arrest warrant last month after the Chicago Police Department confirmed the warrant but refused to transfer him to ICE, releasing him into the community instead.
Luis Manuel Saucedo-Cardenas, a Mexican national with prior convictions for assault, controlled substance violations, carjacking, and prison time for wire fraud, was issued a federal criminal warrant for illegal reentry on April 29. The Chicago Police Department confirmed the warrant on May 1 but declined multiple ICE requests for a custody transfer. ICE Chicago officers arrested Saucedo-Cardenas on May 6.
“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.
ICE previously removed Saucedo-Cardenas from the United States in 2022. His return constitutes illegal reentry, a federal felony under 8 U.S.C. § 1326. ICE stated that “the safest way to arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens from our streets is by lodging immigration detainers against them. Because sanctuary cities refuse to work with ICE, criminal illegal aliens are released from jails into American communities to commit more crimes.”
Chicago operates under a sanctuary ordinance that restricts city agencies, including the police department, from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. ICE noted that in non-sanctuary jurisdictions, state and local law enforcement honor immigration detainer requests and transfer criminal illegal immigrants to federal custody for detention and removal.
“When sanctuary politicians ignore ICE detainers, they protect criminal illegal aliens at the expense of American citizens,” ICE stated. “These are often aliens previously convicted of offenses like rape, murder and drug trafficking.”
ICE encouraged the public to report crimes and suspicious activity by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the agency’s online tip form. Saucedo-Cardenas faces federal prosecution on the illegal reentry charge.