Guatemalan illegal alien arrested twice in 18 hours in Putnam County, NY
Diego Rodriguez‑Ordonez, a 24‑year‑old Guatemalan illegal alien, was arrested twice within an 18‑hour span on Wednesday in Putnam County, New York. The first arrest occurred at about 3:05 a.m. after sheriff’s deputies found him near a Kent convenience store where he was accused of robbery and assault.
The rapid succession of arrests highlights concerns about public safety and the impact of sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Local officials and state lawmakers seized on the case to argue that existing policies allow repeat offenders to remain on the streets.
At the early‑morning scene, deputies assisted Kent police in locating Rodriguez‑Ordonez hiding in a swampy area adjacent to the gas station. He was charged with robbery, assault and felony criminal mischief linked to a separate incident at a nearby bank. He was released later that day with an ankle monitor strapped to his ankle.
Later, at approximately 9:09 p.m., Putnam County 911 dispatch sent deputies to the Southeast Metro‑North station after a woman reported being touched aboard a train and later groped on the platform. Officers located Rodriguez‑Ordonez near the train yard, deployed a taser when he resisted commands, and arrested him on misdemeanors of forcible touching, obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest and criminal trespass.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed that Rodriguez‑Ordonez is in the United States illegally, has a lengthy rap sheet that includes multiple sex‑offense convictions, and that ICE placed a detainer on him. The spokesperson noted that he was first encountered by Border Patrol in Texas in December 2018 and was released from ICE custody by the Biden administration in March 2021. A judge in Southeast Justice Court set bail at $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond.
Assemblyman Matt Slater (R‑Putnam) called the arrests “proof of the flawed system we live under in New York,” emphasizing the suspect’s 16 arrests since 2024 and urging deportation. County Executive Kevin Byrne reiterated that Putnam County is not a sanctuary county and pledged continued cooperation with federal partners. The case is slated for a next court appearance, and ICE’s detainer means deportation proceedings are likely to follow.
