On Thursday morning, Fox and Friends made time for the kind of story that is a reminder of how important it is to enforce immigration laws and deport aliens who commit serious crimes rather than allow liberal sanctuary cities to cover for them.
The Fox News show devoted a segment to the case of Reeaz Khan -- an illegal alien from Guyana -- who recently murdered 92-year-old Maria Fuentes after New York City refused to turn him over to ICE after he stabbed his father.
At 6:29 a.m. Eastern, co-host Brian Kilmeade commented that New York sanctuary laws are "under fire after a horrific attack," leading co-host Steve Doocy to recount the attack: "Twenty-one-year-old Reeaz Khan is living in the country illegally and has been charged with the brutal murder of a 92-year-old woman. He's accused of throwing her to the ground and assaulting her terribly before fleeing the scene, leaving her for dead."
Co-host Ainsley Earhardt then informed viewers that the city had actually rejected a request to hand him over to ICE so he could be deported in spite of the violent attack on his father, and then introduced Fox contributor Tomi Lahren for more discussion:
AINSLEY EARHARDT: Khan was previously released from local law enforcement back in November despite an ICE detainer after he stabbed his father. Here to react, Fox Nation host Tomi Lahren. So, Tomi, let me get this straight -- he was behind bars for stabbing his dad -- for weapons -- ICE wants to detain him, but then the city officials said, "No, you can't by law -- we have to release him," and now he did this to the 92-year-old lady?
Lahren complained about Democrats making the country more dangerous with such policies, noting that immigrants are more likely to be victims of criminal aliens:
TOMI LAHREN: Well, that's exactly what you explained, is sanctuary cities and sanctuary states at work. And the question that needs to be asked to these Democratic leaders is: Who is made safer by these sanctuary policies? It's certainly not the American people. And, in fact, it's actually immigrant communities that suffer the most from sanctuary city policies because these people -- these criminal aliens re-offend oftentimes in those communities, making them more dangerous, so that's the question the leaders of New York, of course here in California, need to be asked and need to answer because the American people are being put at risk, and really anybody living in this country is at risk when you let criminal aliens walk the streets.
Doocy then brought up the issue of New York's recent criminal justice reform that reduced bail for many offenses, and reports that crime is increasing because of the reform. After noting reports of a man who keeps engaging in unarmed bank robbery because he is not being kept in jail until his trial, Doocy read the mayor's office's reaction to the murder of Ms. Fuentes:
DOOCY: The mayor's office was asked about the situation, and they submitted this particular statement. They said, "We mourn the family of Ms. Fuentes. If Mr. Khan is convicted, the city will cooperate with federal officials in accordance with local law. It is shameful that the Trump administration is politicizing this tragedy." Who is politicizing immigration?
Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the Thursday, January 16, Fox & Friends on Fox News Channel:
Fox and Friends
1/16/2020
BRIAN KILMEADE: All right, sanctuary laws in New York City are under fire after a horrific attack.
STEVE DOOCY: You're right, Brian -- 21-year-old Reeaz Khan is living in the country illegally and has been charged with the brutal murder of a 92-year-old woman. He's accused of throwing her to the ground and assaulting her terribly before fleeing the scene, leaving her for dead.
AINSLEY EARHARDT: Khan was previously released from local law enforcement back in November despite an ICE detainer after he stabbed his father. Here to react, Fox Nation host Tomi Lahren. So, Tomi, let me get this straight -- he was behind bars for stabbing his dad -- for weapons -- ICE wants to detain him, but then the city officials said, "No, you can't by law -- we have to release him," and now he did this to the 92-year-old lady?
TOMI LAHREN: Well, that's exactly what you explained, is sanctuary cities and sanctuary states at work. And the question that needs to be asked to these Democratic leaders is: Who is made safer by these sanctuary policies? It's certainly not the American people. And, in fact, it's actually immigrant communities that suffer the most from sanctuary city policies because these people -- these criminal aliens re-offend oftentimes in those communities, making them more dangerous, so that's the question the leaders of New York, of course here in California, need to be asked and need to answer because the American people are being put at risk, and really anybody living in this country is at risk when you let criminal aliens walk the streets.
DOOCY: Well, we have heard from Republican lawmakers here in New York state about how New York state is no longer as safe as it was before the criminal justice reform where now we have this no-bail thing, and, you know, there's a story here in New York City about how a guy has reportedly, allegedly has robbed a bank six times, and every time it's like, "Oh, he only robbed a bank -- he didn't have a gun, he had a note, so we're going to let him out." But then with this sanctuary city stuff, you know, you just expressed the frustration that a lot of people have.
The mayor's office was asked about the situation, and they submitted this particular statement. They said, "We mourn the family of Ms. Fuentes. If Mr. Khan is convicted, the city will cooperate with federal officials in accordance with local law. It is shameful that the Trump administration is politicizing this tragedy." Who is politicizing immigration?
LAHREN: Well, exactly, and, you know, that statement -- it sounds great to put out a statement, but it's a little too late, and I'm sure the family of this woman and the family of those who have been murdered by illegal immigrants, especially criminal aliens, especially when detainers have been placed on them by ICE. They want to know why these people are allowed to walk the streets, and you couple that with the felon-friendly policies that you just mentioned -- of course in New York and absolutely here in California, and you have mayhem, you have Gotham City. Someone needs to answer for this.
