Steve Cortes, president of the League of American Workers, said that recent federal immigration enforcement actions underscore the importance of national sovereignty for working-class families in North Carolina, citing a high-profile case involving a repeat immigration violator wanted for a firearm-related murder.
“When sanctuary-style policies ignore nearly 1,400 ICE detainers and let repeat offenders from the Third World re-enter to kill with a firearm, working-class Americans pay the deadly price while the political class is totally complicit,” said Cortes.
His statement follows the announcement that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer on Carlos Anuel Medina-Robles, a Honduran national wanted for a firearm-related murder in Durham County, after his arrest by authorities in North Dakota.
Medina-Robles first entered the United States illegally in August 2018, was deported in November 2018, reentered illegally in September 2022, was removed again, and later returned a third time. The detainer, lodged on April 9, ensures custody pending extradition proceedings, according to Durham Reporter.
“This murder warrant out of Durham for a twice-deported Honduran illegal shows exactly why sovereignty matters to working-class families in North Carolina,” He added.
The case has drawn attention amid ongoing concerns about public safety and coordination between local jurisdictions and federal agencies.
In North Carolina, nearly 1,400 ICE detainers have gone unhonored by local jurisdictions operating under sanctuary-style policies. In such cases, individuals are released back into communities rather than transferred to federal custody. According to the Department of Homeland Security, this pattern has prompted targeted federal enforcement efforts in the state to address public safety concerns.
U.S. Border Patrol enforcement actions have resulted in thousands of arrests involving individuals with criminal convictions tied to illegal entry or reentry across multiple fiscal years. Data through fiscal year 2026 indicates continued encounters with noncitizens who have prior records for serious offenses. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, these figures reflect the scale of repeat violations and the resource demands placed on federal and local agencies.
Cortes founded the League of American Workers in 2022 to promote pro-worker, populist policy advocacy and public engagement. The organization focuses on labor and economic issues affecting American families. Cortes previously served in advisory roles for presidential campaigns and worked as a political commentator.
