New York sanctuary officials release over 16,000 illegal immigrants despite ICE detainer requests
New York sanctuary officials released more than 16,000 illegal immigrants from jail on Oct. 13, 2026, despite federal ICE requests to detain those charged with serious crimes.
The Department of Homeland Security reported that 16,070 ICE detainer requests were rejected between Jan. 20, 2025, and Oct. 8, 2026, involving migrants linked to 52,503 criminal charges, including over 130 homicides, more than 130 kidnappings, more than 1,000 sexual offenses and nearly 10,000 assaults.
Among the released individuals was Mexican national Roman Ceron Amatitla, accused of setting a Queens building ablaze in March 2026 and facing eight counts of second‑degree murder and a first‑degree arson charge. Another case cited by DHS was that of El Salvadoran Aureliano Antonio Melendez Reyes, arrested for raping a 16‑year‑old girl; New York officials rejected the ICE detainer in June.
Critics pointed to further incidents after release. Venezuelan Jose Antonio Ibarra, freed by New York officials, later traveled to Georgia and murdered nursing student Laken Riley. DHS also highlighted Bairon Posada‑Hernandez, a four‑time‑deported Honduran who shoved two bystanders, including an 83‑year‑old veteran, onto subway tracks after an ICE request was denied.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin condemned the actions, saying, “While sanctuary politicians continue to release dangerous criminals onto their streets, our brave law‑enforcement officers will continue to risk their lives to arrest these heinous criminals and make America safe again.” New York Governor Kathy Hochul responded on X, saying she had spoken with President Trump and Secretary Mullin and expressed outrage on behalf of New Yorkers, while NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani called for an end to ICE operations in the city.
The releases come under New York’s “Local Cops, Local Crimes Act,” which bars state and local agencies from cooperating with ICE, and similar municipal statutes that require judicial warrants before honoring detainers. Lawmakers in the House are pursuing the Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act, which would allow victims to sue jurisdictions that release criminal illegal immigrants. The next steps hinge on how federal and state officials navigate these competing legal frameworks.
