U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) subpoenaed Denver law enforcement and New York City Department of Corrections for not releasing information regarding illegal immigrants convicted of crimes.

The subpoenas request information about the criminals such as phone number, address, employer, vehicle type to aid ICE officers to make arrests.

Sanctuary cities don’t help, so it causes ICE officers to waste time and manpower trying to locate them. ICE maintains that cooperation with local officials is a necessary component for public safety. Without it, illegal immigrant criminals such as murderers and rapists are released back on the streets.

ICE is usually not notified by sanctuary cities after illegal immigrants post bail or serve jail time.

Matt Albence, ICE Director, commented about the subpoenas issued, “We expect them to comply. If they don’t comply, we’ll be working with DOJ to go to district court to force them to comply with requirements.”

“The individuals that fail to comply can be held in contempt. They can show up to court with a toothbrush because they could be jailed for failure to comply with a lawful order from a judge. That’s the route we’re going,” Albence said during a press conference.

Albence explained subpoenas were the last resort to force sanctuary cities to help federal officers find people at their homes and jobs if local officials do not turn them over

ICE requested New York officials to notify them before releasing 7,500 illegal immigrants so that it could transfer them into custody in 2019, but they did not honor the request.

Earlier this month, Reeaz Khan, a Guyanese national, attacked and raped a 92-year-old woman, who later died from the injuries. Khan was released from jail in November for assault and criminal possession of a weapon. The same day of his release, Enforcement and Removal Operations deportation officers lodged a detainer with the New York Police Department, but they did not honor it and Khan was released.

Khan is charged with murder and sexual abuse and is being held without bail.