U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons has sent a letter to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, urging the state to cooperate with federal authorities by honoring ICE arrest detainers for more than 4,000 criminal illegal aliens currently in Illinois custody. These individuals include those convicted or charged with serious crimes such as murder, sexual assault, and weapons offenses.
According to ICE, since January 20, Illinois' policy of not honoring ICE detainers has led to the release of 1,768 criminal illegal aliens. The released individuals were associated with crimes including five homicides, 141 assaults, 23 burglaries, four robberies, 24 dangerous drug offenses, 15 weapons offenses, and ten sexual predatory offenses.
ICE reports that there are still over 4,000 individuals in Illinois custody with active detainers for similar serious crimes: "There are currently 4,015 aliens in the custody of an Illinois jurisdiction with an active detainer. The crimes of these aliens include 51 homicides, 1,134 assaults, 107 burglaries, 36 robberies, 275 dangerous drugs offenses, 120 weapons offenses, and 813 sexual predatory offenses."
The agency noted that it previously reached out to Attorney General Raoul in September requesting cooperation but did not receive a response.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated: “Governor Pritzker and his fellow Illinois sanctuary politicians are releasing murderers, pedophiles, and kidnappers back into our neighborhoods and putting American lives at risk. 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. It is common sense. Criminal illegal aliens should not be released back onto our streets to terrorize more innocent Americans.”
ICE provided examples of cases where individuals were released from local custody despite federal detainers:
- Victor Manuel Mendoza-Garcia was convicted on three counts of aggravated kidnapping/ransom but was released after serving time; he was later arrested by ICE.
- Juan Morales Martinez was involved in a fatal vehicle crash; after being released from jail without cooperation with ICE detainers he was apprehended by ICE officers outside the facility.
- Amilcar Waldo Gonzalez-Jimenez faced convictions for driving under the influence and multiple counts of criminal sexual assault; he was later taken into ICE custody.
- Juan Alberto Caro Marin served time for aggravated criminal sexual abuse but was released before being detained by ICE.
- Jose Manuel Fuentes-Vargas had been convicted for domestic battery and sexual assault of a minor; he is now in ICE custody following his release.
- Leonardo Ignot-Osto had multiple entries into the U.S., a conviction for child abduction among other charges; after being released despite an immigration detainer he was removed from the country by ICE.
- Jaime Mandujano-Nunez served a sentence for predatory criminal sex assault of a child but was also released before removal by federal authorities.
- Alfonso Batalla Garcia had prior convictions including attempted murder; following his release from state prison without honoring an immigration hold he was deported by ICE.
- Guillermo Garcia-Porcayo had been convicted of attempted murder but was released from state prison before being removed from the United States.
ICE continues to press state officials to honor its requests regarding these cases.
