A group of Westchester County politicians rallied on the eve of Election Day to denounce New York State’s “sanctuary” status following the arrest of an illegal migrant in a triple upstate shooting.
Speaking outside the Westchester County Jail, the group blamed the controversial designation for allowing Chilean national Fernando Andres Jimenez Meza to remain free for years after a drunken driving arrest — despite being sought by federal immigration authorities.
Last month, Jimenez Meza allegedly shot his girlfriend and her two teen sons in their Somers home, killing one of the boys before leading cops on a manhunt.
“The suspect in this horrific crime… could have and should have been deported long ago after his arrest for drunk driving in Yonkers in 2018,” US Rep. Mike Lawler told reporters.
“He should have been handed over to ICE,” Lawler said. “Instead, Westchester County sanctuary status prevents law enforcement from coordinating with federal immigration authorities. As a result, a violent criminal was protected from deportation and remained in our community.”
Jimenez Meza, 40, entered the US illegally on Aug. 11, 2004, in Tecate, California, using the name Erik Melendez-Arellano, but was taken into custody and voluntarily deported.
But he re-entered the country and on Sept. 11, 2018, was arrested by state troopers in Yonkers and charged with drunken driving. He was released after paying a $500 fine, according to records and sources.
Although the arrest was within the city boundaries a spokesman for the Yonkers Police Department said the case was handled by state police and the city had no involvement.
Sources said he was also charged with assault at some point but that case is sealed and it is not known where that arrest took place.
Jimenez Meza is now charged with shooting his girlfriend, Christina Raimondi, and her two teen sons on Oct. 29 at their townhouse on Route 6 in Somers.
One boy, 15-year-old Michael, died, while his accused killer led cops on a massive manhunt before he was nabbed in Putnam County.
The case sparked outrage over the state’s sanctuary city status, which consists of a vow not to cooperate with federal immigration authorities in holding migrants wanted for deportation.
Albany adopted the policy as did New York City — and Westchester County, critics charge.
Passed in 2018, the county’s Immigrant Protection Act bars local authorities from providing federal officials with information that includes an individual’s national origin and other factors.
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