Adriano Espaillat backs deportation for immigrants convicted of violent crimes

New York.- U.S. Congressman Adriano Espaillat said immigrants convicted of violent crimes should face the criminal justice system and, when required by law, be deported to their countries of origin. However, he argued that deportation should not be automatically applied to individuals involved in minor offenses.

During a televised interview, Espaillat emphasized the distinction between violent crimes and less serious violations, stating that individuals convicted of offenses such as homicide or sexual assault must be held accountable through the legal system and face the penalties established by law. If legislation mandates deportation following a conviction, he said those provisions should be enforced.

At the same time, the Dominican-born congressman maintained that people convicted of minor offenses deserve a different approach. He noted that many of these cases involve parents and long-term residents who should be given an opportunity to rebuild their lives rather than face removal from the country.

Espaillat also reflected on past U.S. immigration enforcement practices, recalling that immigration authorities operated aggressively even before the creation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He said his own family experienced immigration raids when he was younger.

The congressman stressed the importance of due process in all immigration-related cases, arguing that deportation decisions should only be considered after individuals have gone through the criminal justice system and received a conviction. He reiterated that any removal proceedings must be carried out in accordance with existing laws and constitutional protections.

His comments come amid ongoing national debates over immigration enforcement, deportation policies, and the treatment of immigrants convicted of crimes in the United States.