In a bold move that exposed the dangers of sanctuary city policies, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Brayan Eleazar Angulo-Barrios, an illegal immigrant with a long criminal record, in the defiant left-leaning city of Hyattsville, Maryland. Despite a history of weapons and drug charges, and a known association with the violent 18th Street gang, local police refused to cooperate with ICE, highlighting the dangerous consequences of these sanctuary policies.
Angulo-Barrios, who had served a year-long sentence for drug and weapons offenses, was released by Prince George’s County law enforcement—only to be shielded from ICE’s efforts to deport him. The local authorities’ refusal to honor ICE’s detainer request has drawn sharp criticism from conservatives, who argue that sanctuary cities endanger the safety of American citizens by prioritizing political correctness over public safety.
The situation has prompted strong reactions from the White House, which issued a scathing report condemning Hyattsville’s sanctuary policies. The document, titled “Sanctuary Policies Put Accused Killer Back on the Streets,” denounced the dangerous precedent set by cities like Hyattsville. It said, “So-called ‘sanctuary’ jurisdictions endanger the lives of the Americans who live there.”
The White House pointed to a particularly troubling example in Prince George’s County, where another illegal immigrant, arrested for murder and assault, was released back into the community despite a clear immigration detainer request from ICE. “Fortunately, ICE eventually arrested the illegal immigrant, and he’ll soon be on his way back to Guatemala,” the document noted, underscoring the absurdity of releasing dangerous criminals back onto the streets.
Critics of sanctuary policies, including many on the right, argue that the refusal of local authorities to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement only emboldens criminals. The White House’s document outlined the negligence of local officials who continue to undermine law enforcement. Notably, former Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, now a U.S. Senator, proudly proclaimed in 2019, “we do not participate in immigration enforcement.” In 2024, she argued that immigration enforcement should not be the responsibility of local governments—an attitude that has led to an environment where criminal illegal immigrants are free to roam unchecked.
The report also highlighted the dangerous rhetoric from other local leaders. In 2019, Prince George’s County Council Member Deni Taveras, now a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, suggested that there was “an incredible amount of fear” surrounding immigration enforcement, signaling a clear willingness to allow lawlessness in the name of political correctness.
The White House also took aim at current Prince George’s County officials, including Acting County Executive Tara Jackson, who insisted, “Our focus is on ensuring public safety and building trust with all members of our community, regardless of their immigration status.” This rhetoric only further endangers the safety of law-abiding citizens by allowing criminal illegal immigrants to remain on the streets.
In an even more glaring display of defiance, Maryland State Senator Alonzo Washington (D-Prince George’s) called for local law enforcement to disregard ICE’s authority entirely, stating, “We’re going to build a better relationship with our immigrant community so we know exactly who they are and we can protect them.” Such comments reveal a disturbing disconnect from the reality that illegal immigrants—especially those with criminal histories—pose a significant threat to public safety.
Conservatives continue to call for the end of sanctuary city policies, which only shield dangerous criminals while putting American citizens at risk. The arrest of Angulo-Barrios by ICE is a reminder of the real-world consequences of these policies, and the ongoing battle to restore law and order in communities across the nation.
