New York State has reportedly released almost 7,000 criminal illegal aliens back onto the streets thanks to disastrous state and local “sanctuary” laws that protect the illegal community.
This fact was revealed in a letter sent on Monday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons to the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James.
According to the New York Post, which has reviewed the letter, a whopping 6,947 illegal aliens with active ICE detainers have been released back onto the streets since Inauguration Day.
These include Jesus Romero Hernandez, a Mexican national who was released back onto the streets after serving nearly half a year in jail for attacking a local police officer with a machete.
Earlier today, at a hearing where Democratic governors were called to testify before Congress on sanctuary city policies, Rep. Jim Jordan confronted Governor Kathy Hochul on the release of Jesus Romero Hernandez by the Tompkins County’ Sherriff’s office. #twithaca pic.twitter.com/5lKCAR2fqI
— Ithaca Crime (@IthacaCrime) June 12, 2025
The fault for these releases appears to lie with former New York leaders.
“A 2017 executive order signed by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo prohibits law enforcement officers from using ‘resources, equipment, or personnel’ for helping feds enforce immigration laws,” the Post notes.
The sanctuary policies in New York City are even worse.
The city’s policies prohibit “the NYPD and Department of Correction from honoring ICE detainer requests unless the individual in question has been convicted of violent crimes, appears on the federal terror watch list, or when immigration officials have a judicial warrant.”
Another illegal released by New York included Vyacheslav Danilovich Kim, a Uzbekistani national previously arrested for raping children, including child prostitutes, less than 15 years of age.
New York State officials even once released a known or suspected terrorist, Turkish national Selman Cevik.
In addition to complaining about the state’s sanctuary policies, Lyons, in his letter, also demanded that James immediately facilitate the transfer into ICE custody of 7,113 illegal aliens currently in state/local custody.
The over 7,000 illegals “are responsible for a combined 148 homicides, 717 assaults, 134 burglaries, 106 robberies, 235 dangerous drug offenses, 152 weapons offenses and 260 sexual predatory offenses,” the Post notes.
“These are people who are not only in the country illegally, but who have committed additional crimes, including heinous crimes like murder, rape, possession of child pornography, armed robbery, and many others,” Lyons wrote in his letter to James’ office.
HAND ‘EM OVER!
New York City’s failure to honor ICE detainers has resulted in the release of 6,947 criminal illegal aliens since January 20. There are another 7,000 still in the custody of a New York jurisdiction with an active detainer.
We are calling on NY Attorney General… pic.twitter.com/T5kg9Ggh0c
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) December 2, 2025
In a statement to the Post, Homeland Security Department Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin reiterated what Lyons had said.
“Attorney General James and her fellow New York Sanctuary politicians are releasing murderers, terrorists, and sexual predators back into our neighborhoods and putting American lives at risk,” she said.
“We are calling on Letitia James to stop this dangerous derangement and commit to honoring the ICE arrest detainers of the more than 7,000 criminal illegal aliens in New York’s custody. It is common sense. Criminal illegal aliens should not be released back onto our streets to terrorize more innocent Americans,” she added.
Despite so many illegals having been released by New York, many have already found themselves back in custody thanks to ICE’s hard work.
Indeed, the Department of Homeland Security published a press release Monday revealing all of the rapists, pedophiles, and murderers — termed “worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens” — that were scooped up over Thanksgiving weekend.
Over Thanksgiving Weekend, ICE Arrested Worst of the Worst Criminal Illegal Aliens Including Rapists, Pedophiles, and Murderers | Homeland Security https://t.co/Rqp0iw8JYW
— vanessa (@linusblue) December 2, 2025
“While Americans enjoyed a long holiday weekend with their families and friends, ICE law enforcement was hard at work arresting rapists, child sex abusers, and murderers,” a DHS spokesperson said.
“Every American should be grateful to our law enforcement officers for putting their lives on the line each and every day to remove the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens. Despite what the media and sanctuary politicians claim, 70% of ICE arrests are of criminal illegal aliens convicted or charged with a crime in the U.S.,” they added.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
- Michigan veteran, 88, still working to survive is given gift of retirement thanks to public - December 3, 2025
- NY school principal refuses to let Nazi labor-camp survivor speak to students, ‘given his message’ - December 3, 2025
- Legend Elton John says Trump has the potential of being ‘one of the greatest presidents in history’ - December 2, 2025
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.