Federal officials say sanctuary policies in New York and Illinois have freed thousands of convicted or accused criminals wanted for deportation, including murderers, rapists, and gang members.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Two of the nation’s largest sanctuary states—New York and Illinois—have released nearly 9,000 criminal aliens from jails and prisons since January despite active Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers, according to Judicial Watch and data confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
In New York alone, nearly 7,000 criminal aliens flagged by ICE were released back into communities over a ten-month period. Their crimes include 29 homicides, 2,509 assaults, 199 burglaries, 305 robberies, 392 drug offenses, 300 weapons offenses, and 207 sexual predatory offenses. Among those freed are a Turkish terror suspect, Selman Cevik, convicted of first-degree menacing and harassment, and Huseyin Aslan, a rapist and repeat offender charged with assault and contempt.
DHS says there are still 7,113 criminal aliens in New York jails with active ICE detainers, including offenders charged with 148 homicides and 260 sexual predatory crimes. “Sanctuary politicians are releasing murderers, terrorists, and sexual predators back into our neighborhoods and putting American lives at risk,” said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin.
Illinois has followed a similar path. Under Governor J.B. Pritzker’s statewide sanctuary policy, 1,768 criminal aliens have been released since January instead of being turned over to federal authorities. Their offenses include five homicides, 141 assaults, 23 burglaries, 24 drug crimes, and 10 sexual predatory offenses.
Among those released is Victor Manuel Mendoza-Garcia, convicted of three counts of aggravated kidnapping and sentenced to 18 years in Cook County, and Jaime Mandujano-Nunez, sentenced to 17 years for the predatory sexual assault of a child. DHS reports another 4,015 illegal immigrants remain in Illinois custody with active ICE detainers, including more than 800 sexual predatory offenses.
“We are calling on Governor Pritzker and his administration to stop this dangerous derangement and commit to honoring the ICE arrest detainers of the more than 4,000 criminal illegal aliens in Illinois’ custody,” McLaughlin said.
Nationwide, more than two dozen states and local jurisdictions continue to shield illegal immigrants under sanctuary policies. The Department of Justice recently identified dozens of states, cities, and counties that obstruct federal immigration enforcement.
A Center for Immigration Studies analysis found that from October 2022 to February 2025, over 25,000 criminal aliens were released nationwide, with California leading all jurisdictions—declining ICE detainers for 13,025 offenders.
The Trump administration has vowed to continue confronting sanctuary policies, arguing they endanger public safety and undermine federal immigration law.
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