Latest news with #TompkinsCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Student overdoses on fentanyl after using laced marijuana vape
TOMPKINS COUNTY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – A school-aged child nearly died last week after smoking a marijuana vape that was laced with fentanyl. The Dryden Central School District released a letter to the public on May 13 stating that a student in Tompkins County overdosed on fentanyl after using what they believed was a marijuana vape. According to the district, the student collapsed in the hallway of his school and was administered multiple doses of Narcan, a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of an overdose. The student reported inhaling the vape one time. When the vape was tested, it tested positive for fentanyl. The vape was not purchased at a licensed dispensary but at an independent convenience store that was not permitted to sell marijuana in any form. The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office was contacted and is investigating the matter. The district says each of its buildings is equipped with Narcan as well as AED machines. Staff members are trained to use these tools. Dryden encourages parents to talk to their child about the dangers of substance abuse. Read the full letter below. NYSP looking for missing teen last seen in Deposit Student overdoses on fentanyl after using laced marijuana vape New Siena Poll: NYers weigh in on state budget, governor favorability One more day under high pressure before rain returns New York State DOT remembers fallen highway workers Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
05-02-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
ICE in Ithaca: Tompkins County legislators, residents react to recent deportation efforts
A federal judge will hold Mexican citizen Jesus Romero-Hernandez in custody following his arrest in Ithaca on Thursday. President Donald Trump's Department of Justice alleged in a statement that the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office released Romero-Hernandez last week before federal agents could retrieve him. Several people applauded the sheriff for adhering to sanctuary city policies like those in place throughout Tompkins County, while others questioned the decision. A federal judge will hold Mexican citizen Jesus Romero-Hernandez, 27, in custody following his arrest in Ithaca Thursday. President Donald Trump's Department of Justice alleged in a statement that the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office released Romero-Hernandez last week before Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents could retrieve the man, awaiting resolution of state assault charges. Tompkins County legislators and Ithaca residents expressed a range of reactions to Tompkins County Sherriff Derek Osborne's actions, according to a video of the Tuesday, Feb. 4 meeting. Several people applauded the sheriff for adhering to sanctuary city policies like those in place throughout Tompkins County. Reactions to federal presence in Tompkins County 'We support Sheriff Osborne and all our local officials who follow the law and our local sanctuary city policies when ICE came to target our city," county resident Lynne Jackier said. 'We hope that the city of Ithaca, Tompkins County and New York State are making plans in advance and getting prepared to resist the unwarranted, unjustifiable mass deportation project.' Others including Ithaca resident Zach Winn questioned the sheriff's office in its decision. "Should someone with his record, lack of citizenship, and an order of removal be allowed to remain free in the city of Ithaca, Tompkins County, or the United States?" Winn asked. 'I would like to understand the communication breakdown between federal immigration officials and the county jail. What policy led to Mr. Hernandez's release?' Winn said though many have criticized ICE operations in Tompkins County as 'excessive,' such a response would not have been necessarily had he remained in jail until immigrations and customs enforcement officials could retrieve him. Both local and federal officials have refused to answer questions regarding deportation and Romero-Hernandez's arrest according to some reports, but several Tompkins County legislators spoke to the issue Tuesday, including Michael Lane - a democratic legislator representing the city of Ithaca - who compared the United States immigrations system to a bully. Facility upgrades:Ithaca College to begin construction on updated west-campus athletic track NY Comptroller:Ithaca woman stole $70K using deceased husband's pension 'Being a bully isn't teaching people what they need to know, it isn't leadership. People don't need to be afraid of their government,' he said. 'There was nothing wrong with what our law enforcement community did here in not holding that person, what was wrong was the bully(ing) that we saw the next day.' Lane described the federal presence in downtown Ithaca as 'a bully, a show of force to frighten people.' He said federal agents have also 'been harassing' non-native migrant farmers in Geneva and throughout upstate New York.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump DOJ targets blue county sheriff for releasing illegal immigrant criminal in college town
As the Trump administration ramps up its promise to deport illegal immigrants, the acting U.S. deputy attorney general turned his attention to an upstate New York sheriff who released a criminal migrant back on the streets. Emil Bove III, a former member of President Donald Trump's personal legal team who was named acting deputy attorney general last week, said that the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York was looking into the "failure" of Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne, a Democrat. "Yesterday, despite the warrant, a defendant with no legal status and a history of violence was released into the community," Bove said in a release on Thursday, Jan. 30. "Federal agents risked their safety and pursued the defendant in unsafe conditions." Bove noted "the U.S. Attorney's commitment to investigate these circumstances for potential prosecution," shining a spotlight on the nationwide battle between federal agencies and local sanctuary policies, which have been embraced by the city of Ithaca, the seat of Tompkins County. Border Czar Tom Homan Says He Would 'Seek Prosecution' If Nj Governor Sheltered Illegal Migrant In Home Ithaca is also home to Cornell University, bringing student safety to the forefront as border crossings during former President Biden's tenure became a national issue. Read On The Fox News App Jesus Romero-Hernandez, a 27-year-old Mexican citizen, was previously removed from the United States six times between July and September 2016, according to a complaint viewed by Fox News Digital. Romero pleaded guilty to a New York state assault charge last month and was sentenced to time served. However, on Jan. 28, the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office released him despite a federal arrest warrant that was signed by a magistrate judge. On Jan. 30, Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended Romero with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the DOJ said. "The Justice Department will not tolerate actions that endanger law enforcement and make their jobs harder than they already are, as they work to protect us all," Bove said. "We will use every tool at our disposal to prevent sanctuary city policies from impeding and obstructing lawful federal operations designed to make America safe again and end the national crisis arising from four years of failed immigration policy." He said the U.S. attorney's office in Syracuse, New York, had made a commitment "to investigate these circumstances for potential prosecution." Laken Riley's Alleged Killer Jose Ibarra Flew From 'Ground Zero' Of Migrant Crisis To Georgia In a statement to Fox News Digital, the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office hit back against Bove's statement, calling it "false and offensive." The department noted that Osborne "acted consistently" with local and state policy. "There was no interference with federal immigration enforcement efforts," the sheriff's office said. "DOJ's assertion that the Tompkins County Sheriff did anything to put federal law enforcement officers in danger is false and offensive. "The safety of all law enforcement is our top priority. In contrast, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were notified of when the individual in question was going to be released and had every opportunity to come to the jail to obtain the individual in question without any need for a pursuit or other incident." Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE for comment. The public statement from the acting deputy attorney general is an intensification of the White House's policy to ramp up deportation efforts across the U.S. – including in sanctuary city jurisdictions. The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office and the Ithaca Police Department (IPD) are sanctuary city jurisdictions, which include various measures to bar local law enforcement from assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "In accordance with City law, IPD officers did not participate in any immigration enforcement activities," the City of Ithaca said in a statement. The City Code notably prohibits police from actively assisting federal immigration agencies, saying that officers' primary responsibility is addressing local criminal activity, not immigration status. Tidal Wave Of Border Security Bills Hit House As Republicans Move Fast On Dc Takeover Ithaca was also one of various cities that signed an amicus brief fighting against a 2019 Trump-era policy that would have cut federal funding for sanctuary cities that don't comply with immigration policies. Elizabeth Ricci, a partner at Rambana & Ricci and an adjunct professor of immigration law at Florida State University, told Fox News Digital that ICE has 48 hours to take custody after a suspect has been cleared of state charges. "A federal warrant is dictated by the federal, not state government," Ricci noted. "If they're not released in 48 hours, a habeas lawsuit against the entity holding the individual could ensue." Ricci said that local authorities could be sued by state attorneys general if an illegal immigrant released into the U.S. commits a crime afterward. Hector Quiroga, an immigration attorney based in Washington state, told Fox News Digital that local law enforcement has a "responsibility" to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. "Especially if there is a federal arrest warrant," he said. "Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and various Trump administration executive orders, local agents may be required to detain a person under an ICE detainer, which is a request for additional detention by the federal agency. The federal immigration-related arrest warrant, if one exists, must be served by local authorities, provided they are properly informed. "If the individual is in custody for a state crime but has a federal arrest warrant related to their immigration status, local authorities may detain the individual further while arranging for a transfer to federal authorities for arrest and possible deportation. However, it is important to note that how local authorities handle these situations varies depending on city or county policies and executive orders implemented by the Trump administration. For example, if a city is a 'safe haven' or 'sanctuary city,' it may not honor ICE detainer requests and release the individual after serving state charges, which could lead to conflict with federal authorities." Last month, Bove issued a national directive instructing prosecutors to investigate state or local officials who attempt to obstruct immigration enforcement, according to a memo obtained by Fox News. The memo notes that the Constitution's Supremacy Clause and other authorities "require state and local actors to comply with the Executive Branch's immigration enforcement initiatives" and that it is against federal law for state or local officials to refuse to comply with lawful immigration policies. "The Justice Department will not tolerate actions that endanger law enforcement and make their jobs harder than they already are, as they work to protect us all," Bove said. "We will use every tool at our disposal to prevent sanctuary city policies from impeding and obstructing lawful federal operations designed to make America safe again and end the national crisis arising from four years of failed immigration policy" WATCH: In the New York case, Romero was arrested in Ithaca, a college town where Cornell University is located. Fears over migrant crime in college communities have been heightened since last year's killing of Laken Riley, a nursing student who was murdered on the University of Georgia campus by an illegal immigrant from Venezuela. Riley's death brought to the forefront campus safety concerns in sanctuary cities and how colleges and their surrounding communities can protect students from criminals. "Potential dangers exist everywhere, but especially on campus in sanctuary cities as most are open campuses where outsiders can enter either on foot, bicycle or by vehicle," Patrick McCall, a security expert at McCall Risk Group, told Fox News Digital. "A lot of time, they can blend in with students and go undetected either on or off campus. Reports show Jose Ibarra, who was found guilty in the death of Laken Riley at the University of Georgia, was on and off campus numerous times before the murder and was suspected of 'looking for females.'" Laken Riley Murder: Family Of Slain Uga Student Sobs In Court As Witnesses Describe Crime Scene Evidence Adam Gonzales, the CEO Hyperion Services LLC, echoed McCall's sentiments, saying that schools need to invest in student safety amid an uptick in security concerns. "This will undoubtedly be a costly undertaking, but it is one that universities cannot afford to overlook, given the risks to students, faculty, staff, and the institution's liability," he told Fox News Digital. President Trump signed the bipartisan Laken Riley Act on Jan. 29. The legislation promises stricter immigration policies and came as the University of Georgia announced a $1.7 million investment in additional campus safety improvements. "If you come into this country illegally, and you commit a crime, you should not be free to roam the streets of this nation," said Sen. Katie Britt, R-AL, who helped push the bill through the Senate. The bill also empowers state attorneys general to sue the federal government for harm caused by failures or decisions in immigration enforcement that harm states or people. That includes releasing migrants from custody or failing to detain migrants who have received deportation orders. The bipartisan bill had 46 Democrats in the House and 12 Democrats in the Senate supporting the article source: Trump DOJ targets blue county sheriff for releasing illegal immigrant criminal in college town
Fox News
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump DOJ targets blue county sheriff for releasing illegal immigrant criminal in college town
As the Trump administration ramps up its promise to deport illegal immigrants, the acting U.S. deputy attorney general turned his attention to an upstate New York sheriff who released a criminal migrant back on the streets. Emil Bove III, a former member of President Donald Trump's personal legal team who was named acting deputy attorney general last week, said that the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York was looking into the "failure" of Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne, a Democrat. "Yesterday, despite the warrant, a defendant with no legal status and a history of violence was released into the community," Bove said in a release on Thursday, Jan. 30. "Federal agents risked their safety and pursued the defendant in unsafe conditions." Bove noted "the U.S. Attorney's commitment to investigate these circumstances for potential prosecution," shining a spotlight on the nationwide battle between federal agencies and local sanctuary policies, which have been embraced by the city of Ithaca, the seat of Tompkins County. Ithaca is also home to Cornell University, bringing student safety to the forefront as border crossings during former President Biden's tenure became a national issue. Jesus Romero-Hernandez, a 27-year-old Mexican citizen, was previously removed from the United States six times between July and September 2016, according to a complaint viewed by Fox News Digital. Romero pleaded guilty to a New York state assault charge last month and was sentenced to time served. However, on Jan. 28, the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office released him despite a federal arrest warrant that was signed by a magistrate judge. On Jan. 30, Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended Romero with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the DOJ said. "The Justice Department will not tolerate actions that endanger law enforcement and make their jobs harder than they already are, as they work to protect us all," Bove said. "We will use every tool at our disposal to prevent sanctuary city policies from impeding and obstructing lawful federal operations designed to make America safe again and end the national crisis arising from four years of failed immigration policy." He said the U.S. attorney's office in Syracuse, New York, had made a commitment "to investigate these circumstances for potential prosecution." In a statement to Fox News Digital, the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office hit back against Bove's statement, calling it "false and offensive." The department noted that Osborne "acted consistently" with local and state policy. "There was no interference with federal immigration enforcement efforts," the sheriff's office said. "DOJ's assertion that the Tompkins County Sheriff did anything to put federal law enforcement officers in danger is false and offensive. "The safety of all law enforcement is our top priority. In contrast, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were notified of when the individual in question was going to be released and had every opportunity to come to the jail to obtain the individual in question without any need for a pursuit or other incident." Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE for comment. The public statement from the acting deputy attorney general is an intensification of the White House's policy to ramp up deportation efforts across the U.S. – including in sanctuary city jurisdictions. The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office and the Ithaca Police Department (IPD) are sanctuary city jurisdictions, which include various measures to bar local law enforcement from assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "In accordance with City law, IPD officers did not participate in any immigration enforcement activities," the City of Ithaca said in a statement. The City Code notably prohibits police from actively assisting federal immigration agencies, saying that officers' primary responsibility is addressing local criminal activity, not immigration status. Ithaca was also one of various cities that signed an amicus brief fighting against a 2019 Trump-era policy that would have cut federal funding for sanctuary cities that don't comply with immigration policies. Elizabeth Ricci, a partner at Rambana & Ricci and an adjunct professor of immigration law at Florida State University, told Fox News Digital that ICE has 48 hours to take custody after a suspect has been cleared of state charges. "A federal warrant is dictated by the federal, not state government," Ricci noted. "If they're not released in 48 hours, a habeas lawsuit against the entity holding the individual could ensue." Ricci said that local authorities could be sued by state attorneys general if an illegal immigrant released into the U.S. commits a crime afterward. Hector Quiroga, an immigration attorney based in Washington state, told Fox News Digital that local law enforcement has a "responsibility" to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. "Especially if there is a federal arrest warrant," he said. "Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and various Trump administration executive orders, local agents may be required to detain a person under an ICE detainer, which is a request for additional detention by the federal agency. The federal immigration-related arrest warrant, if one exists, must be served by local authorities, provided they are properly informed. "If the individual is in custody for a state crime but has a federal arrest warrant related to their immigration status, local authorities may detain the individual further while arranging for a transfer to federal authorities for arrest and possible deportation. However, it is important to note that how local authorities handle these situations varies depending on city or county policies and executive orders implemented by the Trump administration. For example, if a city is a 'safe haven' or 'sanctuary city,' it may not honor ICE detainer requests and release the individual after serving state charges, which could lead to conflict with federal authorities." Last month, Bove issued a national directive instructing prosecutors to investigate state or local officials who attempt to obstruct immigration enforcement, according to a memo obtained by Fox News. The memo notes that the Constitution's Supremacy Clause and other authorities "require state and local actors to comply with the Executive Branch's immigration enforcement initiatives" and that it is against federal law for state or local officials to refuse to comply with lawful immigration policies. "The Justice Department will not tolerate actions that endanger law enforcement and make their jobs harder than they already are, as they work to protect us all," Bove said. "We will use every tool at our disposal to prevent sanctuary city policies from impeding and obstructing lawful federal operations designed to make America safe again and end the national crisis arising from four years of failed immigration policy" WATCH: In the New York case, Romero was arrested in Ithaca, a college town where Cornell University is located. Fears over migrant crime in college communities have been heightened since last year's killing of Laken Riley, a nursing student who was murdered on the University of Georgia campus by an illegal immigrant from Venezuela. Riley's death brought to the forefront campus safety concerns in sanctuary cities and how colleges and their surrounding communities can protect students from criminals. "Potential dangers exist everywhere, but especially on campus in sanctuary cities as most are open campuses where outsiders can enter either on foot, bicycle or by vehicle," Patrick McCall, a security expert at McCall Risk Group, told Fox News Digital. "A lot of time, they can blend in with students and go undetected either on or off campus. Reports show Jose Ibarra, who was found guilty in the death of Laken Riley at the University of Georgia, was on and off campus numerous times before the murder and was suspected of 'looking for females.'" Adam Gonzales, the CEO Hyperion Services LLC, echoed McCall's sentiments, saying that schools need to invest in student safety amid an uptick in security concerns. "This will undoubtedly be a costly undertaking, but it is one that universities cannot afford to overlook, given the risks to students, faculty, staff, and the institution's liability," he told Fox News Digital. President Trump signed the bipartisan Laken Riley Act on Jan. 29. The legislation promises stricter immigration policies and came as the University of Georgia announced a $1.7 million investment in additional campus safety improvements. "If you come into this country illegally, and you commit a crime, you should not be free to roam the streets of this nation," said Sen. Katie Britt, R-AL, who helped push the bill through the Senate. The bill also empowers state attorneys general to sue the federal government for harm caused by failures or decisions in immigration enforcement that harm states or people. That includes releasing migrants from custody or failing to detain migrants who have received deportation orders. The bipartisan bill had 46 Democrats in the House and 12 Democrats in the Senate supporting the measure.
Reuters
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
US probes release of arrested immigrant in first challenge to sanctuary cities
Summary Companies Acting Deputy Attorney General accuses Tompkins County Sheriff's Office of impeding immigration enforcement Justice Dept charges 27-year-old Mexican man on immigration charges Trump administration has reassigned more than a dozen career officials to "sanctuary cities" working group WASHINGTON, Jan 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday it was probing the release by an upstate New York sheriff's office of an immigrant living in the U.S. illegally, in what appears to be its first use of a new policy to target state and local agencies that do not comply with President Donald Trump's directives. The department last week directed federal prosecutors to consider criminal investigations of state and local officials if they interfere with federal immigration enforcement, in a crackdown on "sanctuary cities." The incident took place on Wednesday in Ithaca, New York, a deeply progressive city in New York's Finger Lakes region, and involved Mexican national Jesus Romero-Hernandez, 27, who had been in custody over an assault charge. Federal prosecutors said the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office released him despite an outstanding federal arrest warrant on a charge of illegally reentering the U.S. after a prior removal. Romero-Hernandez was later arrested on the immigration charge by federal agents. "Yesterday, despite the warrant, a defendant with no legal status and a history of violence was released into the community," Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove said in a statement. Bove said he welcomed the local U.S. attorney's office's commitment "to investigate these circumstances for potential prosecution." Ithaca said the city's police department adhered to "all relevant city policies" and "did not participate in any immigration enforcement activities." The statement did not directly address the case cited by the Justice Department. The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office could not be immediately reached for comment. Bove last week issued a department-wide memo directing federal prosecutors to investigate state and local officials if they are "obstructing federal functions" related to immigration enforcement. Bove traveled to Chicago on Sunday to observe a law enforcement operation involving agents from the Department of Homeland Security and agents from several Justice Department components. A Justice Department official told Reuters this week that part of Bove's visit also served in part to "observe how sanctuary city policies impact DHS and DOJ immigration enforcement operations." The department has since reassigned more than a dozen senior career attorneys who usually remain in their posts regardless of which party controls the White House to a newly created sanctuary cities working group. The majority of the re-assigned Justice Department employees have little to no expertise in immigration law. A Justice Department official said the group will focus on identifying state and local laws that are impeding federal immigration enforcement, working "on the ground to collect evidence" and assessing the Trump administration's own policies as it relates to providing funding to sanctuary cities.
