New York City authorities released a Mexican migrant with convictions for assault, robbery, weapons charges, and domestic violence, even after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer request for him. Alonzo Reyes-Garcia, also known as Alberto Tellez, was released by the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
ICE officials had filed the detainer for Reyes-Garcia on October 30, seeking his custody until federal authorities could take him. Federal officials stated that Reyes-Garcia had been convicted of third-degree robbery, third-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree criminal contempt, second-degree aggravated harassment, and disorderly conduct. A federal immigration judge had issued a final order of removal for Reyes-Garcia on October 31, 2006, but he re-entered the U.S. at an unspecified time and location.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin criticized the release, stating, "Sanctuary politicians in New York refused to honor ICE’s detainer and released this illegal alien back onto the streets, despite his criminal convictions for robbery, assault, and other violent crimes." He added, "The Trump Administration will always put the American people first, and we will never stop targeting, arresting, and removing illegal aliens in order to make America safe again."
New York City is designated as a sanctuary jurisdiction, with authorities not cooperating with ICE agents. Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an executive order mandating officials not honor ICE requests, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation prohibiting coordination between local police and federal immigration authorities.
DHS estimates that as many as 7.3 million undocumented immigrants are currently in the U.S. The department has issued regular bulletins detailing the policies of sanctuary jurisdictions like New York.
In a separate but related enforcement action, ICE apprehended several alleged gang members in New York who were also in the country illegally, including individuals with convictions for drug possession and prior removal orders. Acting ICE Director David J. Venturella commented on the arrests, stating, "We’re taking these dangerous criminal illegal aliens off our streets to make American cities safer for everyone."