Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Thomas Homan castigated sanctuary cities as "un-American" in a new interview.
"Sanctuary cities, in my opinion, are un-American," Homan said during an interview with the Washington Examiner published Monday.
Homan said jurisdictions that adopt sanctuary city policies are increasing crime in and around them.
"In the last year, I've read all these stories of how the crime rate has exploded in Chicago, and the president's trying to help them," Homan said. "We're stepping up our game in Chicago. Is Chicago doing everything that it can to decrease the criminal activity up there? I say no."
Homan said that because officials in Chicago will not allow his officers to go into the city's jails or follow detainer orders from ICE, criminals who would otherwise be deported are released back onto the streets.
Homan also named San Francisco, New York City, and Philadelphia as cities that are particularly crime-heavy because of their sanctuary city policies.
"These jurisdictions, these cities, are choosing to shield people who violated the laws of this country that committed a crime against this country; they're going to shield them," Homan said. "So, what's next? Sanctuary cities for people who don't want to pay their taxes?"
Homan said that officers he has talked to in these jurisdictions want to assist federal authorities, but politicians prevent them from doing so.