Washington, Oct. 11 -- The acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday criticized a judge's ruling barring his agency from relying solely on databases that have at times led to the wrongful detention of American citizens.

Speaking Thursday at the White House, Matthew Albence called the September ruling an example of "judicial overreach" that threatened public safety.

Following Albence was a Texas sheriff who suggested the ruling would require releasing jailed immigrants who were "drunks" and would "run over your children," a comment that was immediately denounced by advocates.

U.S. District Judge Andre Birotte Jr. barred ICE from issuing requests known as "detainers" based solely on database searches conside...