Annie Comes Home: Making sense of the Trump administration’s actions on criminal justice and immigration

Pamela—The actions of the second Trump administration have real implications for criminal justice reform and immigrant justice in our country.

Mass deportations, political appointments and firings at the Department of Justice and other federal agencies, Congressional priorities, policy directives, and budget cuts are already reshaping how safety, accountability, and justice are experienced by millions of people in this country—including the two million behind bars.

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One Big News Item

Big city mayors set the record straight on crime and safety.

Last week, the Democratic mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City were summoned to testify at a congressional hearing on "sanctuary cities." They were asked about policies that limit local police participation in federal immigration enforcement.

While some GOP members of Congress claimed that these policies have created a "public safety nightmare," the mayors used the national spotlight to debunk false claims about immigration and crime:

The mayors reminded the representatives that crime rates have fallen in their cities, countering the false claims that sanctuary policies have driven up crime. Read more →

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson pointed to specific measures he says his administration has taken to make his city safer—reopening three mental health clinics, providing summer employment for 28,000 young people last year, appropriating $11 billion to build almost 10,000 more affordable housing units, and promoting and hiring 200 detectives to address serious crime. Watch here →

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said her city's pro-immigrant policies are part of Boston's success story. The city's strong community bonds mean that "all of our residents can trust that when they call 911 in the event of an emergency or to report a crime, help will come." Watch here →

Democratic mayors didn't just defend their cities; they also fought back. They warned that Republican policies—such as allegiance to the gun lobby, and cuts to healthcare, housing, and education—are the real threat to safety.

Stat of the Week

During the first month of Trump's second term, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made at least 18,000 arrests and deported 24,900 immigrants. Private prison companies Core Civic and GEO Group are preparing to incrementally add 45,000 new immigration detention beds.

Development to Watch

Trump continues to fearmonger around crime to rile up his base. In his congressional address last Tuesday night, Trump proposed a new "crime bill" to get "tougher on repeat offenders" while "enhancing protections for America's police officers."

What might the new crime bill entail? Potentially new mandatory minimums and enhancements that make jail and prison sentences even longer.

Also likely: an even stronger form of qualified immunity for law enforcement that shields police from lawsuits for abuse or misconduct. Trump also called for legislation to make the death penalty mandatory in all cases involving the murder of a police officer.

More to Read, Watch, Listen