DHS: Nearly 7000 Predatory Migrants Set Free From NYC Jails Since January

Key Takeaways:

• DHS reports that 6,947 migrants with criminal records have been released from New York City jails since January.
• Crimes include 29 homicides, 2,509 assaults, and 207 sexual predatory offenses, among others.
• Another 7,113 inmates with serious criminal backgrounds could also be released soon.
• Local sanctuary policies have been criticized for failing to notify ICE of detainee releases.
• Federal officials cite multiple examples of alleged murders and assaults committed by previously released migrants.

DHS Raises Alarm Over Releases

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced that nearly 7,000 illegal migrants with serious criminal records have been released from New York City jails since January 20th. According to DHS, these individuals were reportedly set free despite having outstanding ICE detainer requests—federal notifications intended to keep them in custody for possible deportation proceedings.

Scope of Serious Offenses

The crimes linked to these 6,947 migrants include 29 homicides, 2,509 assaults, 199 burglaries, 305 robberies, 392 drug offenses, 300 weapons violations, and 207 sexual predatory offenses. DHS administrators say such statistics suggest a profound risk to public safety, emphasizing concerns that some of these individuals could potentially reoffend.

Another 7,113 Detainees at Risk of Release

In addition to those freed, DHS indicates that New York is holding another 7,113 individuals with similarly dangerous criminal backgrounds. These recorded offenses encompass 148 homicides, 717 assaults, 134 burglaries, 106 robberies, 235 dangerous drug charges, 152 weapons offenses, and 260 sexual predatory crimes. There is growing unease that these prisoners might also be released without collaboration between local law enforcement and federal agencies.

Conflict Between Federal and Local Authorities

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons penned a letter to New York Attorney General Letitia James, insisting that public safety should take priority and urging the city to honor ICE detainer requests. “Attorney General James and her fellow New York Sanctuary politicians are releasing murderers, terrorists, and sexual predators back into our neighborhoods,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, echoing the federal stance that these sanctuary policies jeopardize American lives.

Real-World Consequences

DHS officials cite disturbing anecdotes of violence, including one accused Venezuelan national who allegedly murdered a 22-year-old nursing student during her jog, and another who purportedly raped and killed a 37-year-old mother of five. In another case, a man suspected of drug- and sexual assault-related crimes was released from a Santa Barbara County Jail and reportedly went on to commit murder. Critics of New York’s sanctuary practices argue that such incidents underscore the stakes of releasing detainees without federal oversight.

Pressure for Policy Reform

Federal authorities insist that local jurisdictions, including New York, should comply with ICE to prevent additional tragedies. Sanctuary policies, they argue, place ideological goals above community safety by returning violent offenders to public streets. The debate has now escalated into a national concern, with officials warning of further violent crimes if the city continues to reject ICE requests.

A Heightened National Concern

As the total number of released migrants with serious criminal charges climbs, DHS contends that the city’s actions are evidence of a broader conflict over immigration enforcement. The examples cited in New York, Maryland, Georgia, and beyond signal a pattern that federal officials hope to curtail through stricter cooperation between local government and ICE. For now, the DHS continues to press for a change in policy that would prioritize detaining those who pose a significant threat to public safety.