NYC Breaks Sanctuary Rule: Migrant Teen Handed Over to ICE After Cop Attack!
New York City’s sanctuary policy faced a significant shift when the city handed over a Venezuelan migrant teenager, Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, to the U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This move came after he was involved in a street fight with two New York City police officers earlier this year.
Gomez-Izquiel, 19, was arrested by ICE officials after the city’s Department of Corrections honored a detainer request, even though the city is known for its sanctuary city status, which typically limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Gomez-Izquiel was arrested as soon as he was released from local custody. According to ICE, he is now being held in their custody as he awaits deportation proceedings.
Kenneth Genalo, ICE New York City Field Office Director, emphasized that the agency will not allow New York to become a haven for individuals who refuse to follow the law.
In his words, “Gomez-Izquiel is a criminal and a threat to the public servants, residents, and businesses of New York City.” Genalo further assured that ICE will continue its efforts to remove violent criminal offenders from the city.
In response to the detainer request, the New York City Department of Corrections confirmed that they follow local laws when processing ICE detainers, indicating that cooperation with federal authorities is still in place under specific circumstances.
Gomez-Izquiel’s story doesn’t begin with the attack on the NYPD officers. The U.S. Border Patrol initially arrested him in August 2023, but he voluntarily returned to Mexico.
However, by October of the same year, he illegally crossed the southern border once again and was apprehended in Texas.
ICE revealed that after his release, he failed to show up for his scheduled court hearing before an immigration judge, leading to his fugitive status.
His criminal record continued when, in January, Gomez-Izquiel participated in a violent altercation outside a migrant shelter in Times Square.
During the incident, he grabbed one police officer and kicked another. Following this, he was convicted of assault and sentenced to 364 days in jail, a sentence served earlier this year.
Despite the conviction, Gomez-Izquiel’s actions didn’t stop there. He was released without bail but soon found himself in trouble again for his alleged involvement in a violent robbery at Macy’s in Queens. The robbery left a security guard with minor injuries.
The NYPD has expressed frustration with this repeated behavior. Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry shared on X (formerly Twitter), “One of the migrants who assaulted our officers last week in Times Square is back at it again.
This time, he was part of a group that robbed a department store in Queens. Different borough, different crime — same disregard for the law.”
Daughtry highlighted how this type of criminal activity is the last thing New Yorkers need, especially during already challenging times.
Gomez-Izquiel’s case sheds light on a broader issue that has been brewing in New York.
A growing number of juvenile illegal immigrants, allegedly connected to the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang, have been causing a wave of crimes across the city.
Assistant Chief Jason Savino from the NYPD Detective Bureau pointed out that this group has remained largely free due to the state’s lenient laws.
According to Savino, the situation has worsened over time as the gang members became more emboldened. When they first arrived, they were encouraged to avoid major crimes, sticking mainly to petty offenses like pickpocketing.
But as time went on, their criminal activities escalated, moving to more serious offenses like robbery and scooter thefts.
Savino mentioned that law enforcement has arrested about 20 members of a gang subset known as “Los Diablos de la 42,” named after New York’s 42nd Street.
These individuals have been linked to at least 50 different crimes, ranging from small thefts to violent attacks.
He expressed frustration over the fact that their earlier offenses had little to no consequences, leading to an escalation in their criminal behavior.
This case highlights the complex challenges that New York City faces with its sanctuary policies, immigration enforcement, and rising crime connected to migrant youth.
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The story of Gomez-Izquiel is just one of many examples of the difficulties authorities face in balancing city policies with the need to maintain public safety.