The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reportedly demanded that New York Attorney General Letitia James hand over more than 7,000 illegal immigrant criminals currently held in New York custody to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation, according to the New York Post. Since President Trump took office, nearly 7,000 illegal immigrant offenders have been released from New York custody without notifying ICE, with many involved in serious crimes such as rape, robbery, assaults, drug offenses, and weapons violations. The DHS letter, written by acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, highlights that New York’s sanctuary laws have enabled these individuals to be released on bail or parole without notification to ICE, undermining efforts to remove dangerous criminals from the streets.
According to The Post, among the sick criminals are Vyacheslav Danilovich Kim “who was busted for traveling to have sex with a girl whom he believed was 13 years old.” Additionally, Steven Daniel Henriquez Galicia, 25, a Dominican national who illegally entered the U.S. in 2016, was arrested in the Bronx last year for attempted murder but released on cashless bail despite a $300,000 bond request. ICE detained him on September 20. Anderson Smith Satuye Martinez, 21, a Honduran Crips gang member with a prior assault conviction, was arrested for weapon and drug possession in August, released on cashless bail despite an ICE detainer, and taken into ICE custody on September 11.
Lyons emphasized the urgency, stating these individuals are unlawfully present and have committed severe crimes. The DHS has requested confirmation from James on whether New York will honor ICE detainers or continue releasing these individuals. The letter includes examples of released migrants with violent criminal backgrounds who were later re-apprehended by ICE. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin warned that releasing these offenders back into communities jeopardizes public safety, urging James to uphold ICE detainers and halt such dangerous practices.
This situation reflects broader tension between federal immigration enforcement and New York’s sanctuary policies, which prevent local authorities from fully cooperating with ICE, hindering efforts to deport criminals. New York officials criticize federal demands as constitutional overreach, while federal authorities stress the public safety risks posed by sanctuary laws protecting criminal migrants. The DHS letter reiterates its call for New York to take stronger action to prevent criminal migrants from being released without federal notification.
