The Trump administration has lost or abandoned hundreds of cases in which it accused anti-ICE protesters and migrants of assaulting federal immigration agents, a report said.An analysis from The New York Times showed that of the 558 people charged, 191 cases were dismissed and 22 people were acquitted.Only four were convicted after trial, while 246 pleaded guilty and another 95 cases are pending.The newspaper reported the Justice Department typically has a record of more than 90 percent of defendants pleading guilty or being convicted at trial.
The Trump administration’s strategy in court has been leaning on 18 U.S.C.111, a statute that makes it a federal crime to assault or forcibly impede a government officer and carries punishments ranging from a fine to 20 years in prison, it added.Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department for comment.NEW YORK TIMES TORCHED FOR 'FALSE' REPORTING ON ICE INVESTIGATIONS, OUTLET FIRES BACKFederal agents are seen walking in uniform.
A report from The New York Times said the Trump administration has lost or abandoned hundreds of cases in which it accused anti-ICE protesters and migrants of assaulting federal immigration agents.(John Moore/Getty Images)DHS spokeswoman Lauren Bis told the New York Times that "it should come as no surprise that there’s an increase in criminal referrals under 18 U.S.C.
111 as there’s been a massive increase in violence and threats against federal law enforcement.""Federal prosecutors are correct to prioritize these prosecutions and hold individuals accountable to the fullest extent of the law," added Justice Department spokesman Wyn Hornbuckle, describing how prosecutors, at times, reduced or dropped charges based on "mitigating factors identified in a case."The New York Times cited another Justice Department official as saying that prosecutors in some of the cases dropped charges when the defendants were deported from the United States.The new...