Suffolk County DA Rachael Rollins’ new memo known as the “Rollins Memo” not only orders police to stop arresting all but the most egregious offenses, it commands law enforcement to refuse to cooperate with ICE.
With the release of “the Rollins memo,” a 65-page policy blueprint released Monday to staffers, Rollins has given special status to illegal immigrants by ordering her staff to be on the lookout for federal ICE agents in or around courthouses.
The memo reads, “If any ADA, victim witness advocate, or other SCDAO employee observes Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers, Department of Homeland Security officers, or other civil immigration authorities apprehending or questioning parties scheduled to appear in court about residency status in or around the public areas of any Suffolk County courthouse, they are to immediately notify me (the district attorney), my First Assistant, or my General Counsel.”
It is bizarre and abhorrent that assistant district attorneys are to be repurposed as reconnaissance personnel to spy on other members of law enforcement lawfully conducting their duties. Doubtless, the district attorney intends to intercede on behalf of such parties to some extent. This constitutes activism-fueled freelancing by Rollins and is highly inappropriate.
The extent to which the memo outlines an intention to advocate on behalf of illegal immigrants is alarming. “With the assistance of immigration counsel,” it reads, “our office will begin to factor into all charging and sentencing decisions the potential of immigration consequences. I have also directed ADAs that motions filed after a conviction that are based on defense counsel’s failure to provide accurate advice about immigration consequences may be assented to (after full review) when it appears that doing so would be in the furtherance of justice.”
Not surprisingly, the law enforcement community has something to say about all this. Boston ICE chief Todd Lyons told the Herald’s Joe Dwinell that the memo was “demoralizing” and divisive. “She’s using the policy to pit law enforcement against each other,” he said.
“An ICE officer is there for a specific public safety threat,” Lyons explained. “Look at what our arrests have been for: drug trafficking, fentanyl, aggravated assault, rape.”
It is clear that the Rollins memo is meant to disrupt ICE, the Department of Homeland Security and others in the execution of their responsibilities on a day-to-day basis. Here we have Rollins — the chief law enforcement officer for Boston, Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop — flagrantly working to undermine federal law. How is that in her purview whatsoever?
Source: Boston Herald
Image: Boston Herald
Don’t arrest them. Just bury them .
Let me guess – she’s a democrat and ignore everything is her mantra. Sounds like a perfect vice presidential candidate for Bernie or Elizabeth or Joe!
Why are citizens allowing this to happen?
Has NO ONE learned from San Francisco? Well, I guess y’all are gonna look to Venezuela, because that is exactly what you Dems wanted and that’s what you’re gonna get
The district attorney has NO authority to tell law enforcement not to enforce laws. The district attorney can choose not to prosecute but is guilty of abuse of authority when she attempts to make an end run around the law. She should be prosocuted herself and removed from office
She needs to be fired if she thinks what she is doing is legal. She can’t rewrite the laws she was hired to uphold.