DENVER – In a troubling trend unfolding across the U.S., suspects in violent crimes and sexual assaults are being deported before they can be tried in American courts, prompting prosecutors and legal experts to sound the alarm.
From Denver to Boston, cases are collapsing because Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are removing suspects and even witnesses — making it impossible for prosecutors to continue.
Cases Dropped as ICE Removes Defendants and Witnesses
In suburban Adams County, Colorado, District Attorney Brian Mason has counted at least six criminal cases that had to be shelved because suspects were detained or deported before trial. One Denver case involved a suspect accused of attempted murder. Charges were dropped when ICE deported the witnesses, and the suspect later attacked an ICE agent attempting to re-arrest him.
In Boston, a judge was forced to dismiss charges mid-trial when ICE took the defendant — who was accused of using a fake name — into custody and refused to return him. Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden called the move “extraordinarily reckless.”
The Laken Riley Act: A New Driver of Rapid Deportations
Legal experts point to the Laken Riley Act as a possible cause of the increase. The federal law, passed after the 2024 murder of a Georgia nursing student, requires ICE to detain undocumented immigrants who are accused of crimes like theft or domestic violence. While it doesn’t mandate deportation, some detainees are being removed before their trials can proceed.
That’s raising concerns not just about justice for victims — but about the public safety risks of sending suspects home without trial, especially if they reenter the U.S. illegally.
“People could get deported, sneak back in, and live under the radar without ever being held accountable,” said DA Mason. “That’s dangerous.”
A Two-Tiered Justice System?
Experts warn this creates inequality in the justice system: citizens face prison if convicted, but undocumented suspects might avoid trial entirely if deported early.
“The U.S. citizen must go to court and face jail time,” said law professor Michael Kagan of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. “Meanwhile, a non-citizen could ask ICE for a ride home and skip justice.”
Kagan said some attorneys now refer to ICE as a “getaway driver” for people hoping to avoid criminal penalties.
Victims and Witnesses Also Caught in the Middle
The impact isn’t limited to defendants. Victims and witnesses are increasingly reluctant to come forward, fearing they could also be detained or deported.
“People are afraid to come to court,” said Nicholas Reppucci, chief public defender in Charlottesville, Virginia. “This hurts everyone — victims and the justice system as a whole.”
In the past, prosecutors could work with ICE to arrange U visas for undocumented victims so they could testify without fear. Now that cooperation is gone, said DA Mason.
“If a victim is scared to come to the courthouse because she might be detained by ICE, I can’t prosecute that case,” he said.
The Bottom Line: Safety and Justice at Risk
Legal observers agree: rapid deportations before trial are disrupting the justice system, denying closure to victims, and potentially letting violent offenders go free.
The new immigration enforcement approach may satisfy some political goals, but at a high cost to community safety, they warn.
Source Attribution
Information sourced from:
- USA TODAY original reporting: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/05/17/ice-deportations-before-trial-legal-system-impacts/
- Laken Riley Act summary via Congress.gov: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6976
**This article was written by [Frank Mooney]. AI was used lightly for grammar and formatting, but the ideas, words, and edits are all mine**