House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan sent letters Monday to Philadelphia officials, requesting information on the city's sanctuary policies, accusing the officials of prioritizing criminal and illegal migrants over American citizens.

The letters were sent to Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel and Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal.

Jordan claimed Krasner's office for the past decade has openly given preferential treatment to illegal migrants based on their immigration status by believing "low-level and nonviolent crimes should not lead to deportation" or automatically risk their status.

"Even in cases involving murder or crimes against minors, a prosecutor in Krasner's office may still consider a criminal alien's potential deportation or other immigration consequences in making prosecution decisions to favor an illegal alien," the House Judiciary Committee said in a press release.

"The shielding of criminal aliens from immigration enforcement in Philadelphia undermines public safety and thwarts the efficient enforcement of federal law," it added.

The chairman also claimed that the sheriff's office has obstructed federal law enforcement from making "safe immigration arrests" at multiple places in Philadelphia, including its courthouse. 

The police department has allegedly failed to comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers for years, including ignoring a detainer for an illegal migrant who had been arrested for "aggravated assault, strangulation, reckless endangering, and criminal mischief."

The letters request documents and communications between the offices regarding ICE from 2018 to the present by 5 p.m. Eastern on May 18.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.