ICE warns Illinois releasing criminal aliens despite active detainers
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is warning that Illinois authorities are releasing violent illegal aliens despite being active in immigration detention, a move the agency says puts the public at risk.
In the letter shared with Fox News Digital, Todd Lyons, ICE’s top official who performs director duties, said Illinois has “tens of thousands of criminal illegal aliens” in its custody; He stated that these people had committed various crimes, from murder and rape to child pornography and armed robbery.
Lyons said these criminals “must be quickly removed from the United States… and not returned to our streets to harm law-abiding citizens.”
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ICE highlights numerous cases where Illinois agencies failed to honor immigration detainees, releasing criminals who were later arrested or removed by ICE. They include, from left to right, top to bottom: Alfonso Batalla Garcia, convicted of attempted murder, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping; Leonardo Ignot-Osto, repeat unlawful entry offender convicted of child abduction; Amilcar Waldo Gonzalez-Jimenez was convicted of drunken driving, domestic battery, and sexual assault; Victor Manuel Mendoza-Garcia was convicted of 3 counts of aggravated kidnapping; Juan Morales Martinez, who was linked to a fatal vehicle crash; Jaime Mandujano-Nunez was convicted of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child; Jose Manuel Fuentes-Vargas, convicted of sexual assault of a child; Juan Alberto Caro Marin, convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse; Guillermo Garcia-Porcayo was found guilty of attempted murder. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE))
According to data provided by ICE, Illinois has released 1,768 criminal aliens with active detainees since January 2025. Crimes linked to these criminals include murder, assault, burglary, weapons crimes and sexual assault, ICE said.
ICE badge on an officer’s uniform; The agency says Illinois is putting public safety at risk by releasing criminals on active warrants. (REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez)
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The agency also said 4,015 more criminal aliens awaiting remand were held in state or local custody, including people linked to 51 murders and more than 800 sexual assault crimes.
ICE presented a list of some of the detainees who were not honored, demanding that federal officers find the criminals after their release.
They include Victor Manuel Mendoza-Garcia, who was convicted of three counts of aggravated kidnapping; Juan Morales Martinez, who was involved in a fatal vehicle accident; and Amilcar Waldo Gonzalez-Jimenez were convicted of two counts of sexual assault. In each case, local agencies failed to notify the agency before releasing individuals, ICE said.
Some of the other cases cited by ICE involve felons convicted of child abduction, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, attempted murder, and aggravated kidnapping.
Illinois General Assembly. (iStock)
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Some of the criminals were later re-arrested by ICE or removed from the United States, according to the documents.
Lyons warned that Illinois’ refusal to honor immigration detainees “clearly endangers public safety” and asked whether the state plans to change course or continue releasing violent criminals who might otherwise “walk the streets of Illinois again.”
