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Thursday, Sep. 26, 2024

Was a Wisconsin sexual assault suspect released after previous criminal charges because of sanctuary cities?


no

There is no evidence sanctuary policies meant to shield people from immigration authorities freed Venezuelan Alejandro Coronel Zarate before he was jailed Sept. 5, 2024, on a sexual assault charge in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.

U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R.-Wis., claimed without evidence that Coronel Zarate was “released” because Madison, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis are “sanctuary cities.”

Coronel Zarate was never taken into custody in Madison. He was jailed in Minneapolis, but no charges were filed.

Nov. 16: Coronel Zarate fled before Madison police responded to a battery report.

Nov. 17: Identified as a Madison vehicle theft suspect, Coronel Zarate was arrested in Minneapolis and jailed.

Nov. 20: Coronel Zarate was released after Hennepin County decided not to file charges. “There was no consideration of external policies,” prosecutors told Wisconsin Watch.

Dec. 1: Dane County issued an arrest warrant in the battery, but Coronel Zarate was never taken into custody.

See a full discussion of this at Wisconsin Watch

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