ICE Buffalo Agents Arrest Convicted Sexual Predator Following Release Under New York Sanctuary Policies
Federal immigration authorities have apprehended a Salvadoran national convicted of felony sexual crimes who was recently released into the community by New York authorities. Officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Buffalo arrested Jose Mendoza, identified as a sexual predator, on January 5. The arrest occurred shortly after his release from the Woodbourne Correctional Facility, despite the existence of a final order of removal dating back to April 2006.
Mendoza had been serving a sentence for felony criminal sexual acts, sexual abuse, and family neglect. He was originally sentenced to 25 years in prison on February 2, 2005. According to ICE officials, an immigration judge had ordered his removal from the United States nearly two decades ago. However, local sanctuary policies in New York restricted cooperation between state correction officials and federal immigration agents, leading to his release onto the streets rather than a direct transfer to ICE custody.
ICE Buffalo Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons characterized the arrest as a priority enforcement action, stating that the agency focuses on apprehending individuals with histories showing a disregard for the law and community safety. Lyons emphasized that Mendoza falls into the category of the “worst of the worst” due to his criminal record involving sexual violence. Mendoza remains in ICE custody pending his removal from the United States.
The incident underscores the ongoing friction between federal immigration enforcement mandates and local sanctuary jurisdictions. While federal authorities argue that such policies endanger public safety by releasing convicted criminals, proponents of sanctuary laws maintain that they are necessary to foster trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement, arguing that local resources should not be used for federal immigration duties. This case adds to the debate regarding the handling of undocumented individuals with violent criminal records within sanctuary jurisdictions.
ice.gov
ice.gov
