Hernandez's arrest came days after Gov. Dannel P. Malloy sent a memo to police chiefs recommending they not cooperate with ICE to enforce immigration laws and that "law enforcement should not take action that is solely to enforce federal immigration law." His stance made national news, and was criticized by White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. But in the case of Hernandez, who had a prior felony conviction, state or local police would have held him for federal agents, in accordance with state law, a spokeswoman for Malloy said.