Child rape suspects released after New York and New Jersey jails refuse to hold them for ICE
Two alleged child rapists are at large after New York and New Jersey law enforcement authorities refused to hold them in jail for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, immigration officials say.
The Mexican nationals were taken into custody for separate incidents on charges that they sexually assaulted a minor. Luciano Trejo-Dominguez was arrested by New Jersey police for allegedly restraining and sexually assaulting a child younger than 16 in August, while Joaquin Rodriguez Quiroz was arrested by police in New York on 3rd-degree rape charges earlier this month.
Trejo-Dominguez faces charges of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault of a victim 13-15 years-old, criminal restraint, criminal sexual contact, and endangering the welfare of a child. Meanwhile, Rodriguez Quiroz’s charge constitutes a class-E felony.
ICE and Pacific Enforcement Response Center both filed detainers to have the men held in jail until ICE officers could pick them up. However, local law enforcement in both states then released the suspects back into the public despite the requests.
According to New Jersey’s attorney general, the state’s Immigrant Trust Directive issued last year limits law enforcement’s cooperation with ICE. The New York Police Department additionally denied all federal requests to detain immigrants accused of crimes over a one-year period from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019, as a result of Mayor Bill de Blasio drastically limiting cooperation with ICE under “sanctuary city” policies.
ICE has classified both men as fugitives and is asking anyone with information on their whereabouts to call 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.