WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Saturday warned California, New York and Illinois, so-called sanctuary states, to cooperate with the government in deporting undocumented immigrants released from prison after serving time for crimes.

In a statement, Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the department last week sent letters to the Democratic attorneys general of the three states, asking them to help the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency detain criminal illegal immigrants.

Illinois and New York refused to inform ICE when undocumented criminal immigrants are released from jail or prison to be transferred to ICE custody for deportation.

California did not respond to the letter.

President Donald Trump, a Republican, lau

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