Immigration officials have condemned the sheriff who released an illegal Mexican immigrant who allegedly went on to shot a woman dead on San Franciscio's Pier 14. Officials for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) said that Ross Mirkarimi, the San Francisco sheriff who released Francisco Sanchez, doesn't understand immigration law and should have handed him over to them. Instead, Francisco was let go in February after marijuana charges against him were dropped. According to police, he went on to steal a gun and shoot dead Kathryn Steinle, 32, on July 1. Under local 'sanctuary city' laws, San Francisco doesn't cooperate with immigration officials unless there are active warrants out for suspects, which was not the case of Sanchez.ICE officials criticized Ross Mikarimi in war of words over murder suspectFrancisco Sanchez is accused of killing Kathryn Steinle on July 1She was walking on San Francisco's Pier 14 when he was shot deadHe had been in jail months earlier and had immigration 'detainer' on fileMikarimi has said ICE could have got a warrant for Sanchez  if they wantedICE hit back saying Mikarimi doesn't know the law and such warrants do not existSanchez was let go because of 'sanctuary city' policy under which local officials do not comply with immigration enforcement requests
Mirkarimi tried to defend his conduct earlier this week, claiming that _ should have asked for an arrest warrant if they were so concerned about Sanchez.