ICE Arrests Immigrant Accused of Child Sex Crimes After Release Under New York Sanctuary Policy

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the arrest of a man accused of committing sexual crimes against children, weeks after he was released from custody in New York despite a federal detainer request.

On August 13th, ICE officers took into custody Robert Reid Mendez Jimenez, a Dominican Republic national who had been ordered removed from the United States by an immigration judge back in 2018 but was never deported.

Officials said Jimenez was arrested earlier this year by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) on charges that included engaging in sexual conduct with a child under the age of 11 and other related offenses.

Although federal authorities had filed a detainer with NYPD asking that Jimenez be held until ICE could assume custody, local officials released him in accordance with New York’s sanctuary state laws, which limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

“This case shows the real cost of ignoring ICE detainers: Violent offenders walk free, and public safety is put at risk,” ICE official Ruben Perez said in a statement.

“I’m proud of our deportation officers, who tracked him down and took him into custody — removing a dangerous predator from the streets within weeks of his release into the community.”

Jimenez, who ICE has described as unlawfully present in the United States, is now being detained by federal immigration authorities pending removal proceedings.

ICE Arrests Immigrant Accused of Child Sex Crimes After Release Under New York Sanctuary Policy