Mexican migrant with record of assault, weapons charges released by NYC authorities

New York City authorities released Alonzo Reyes-Garcia, a Mexican migrant with multiple criminal convictions, after a judge ordered supervised release, despite an ICE request to keep him in custody. The case has renewed political criticism of New York’s limits on co-operation with federal immigration enforcement.

ICE filed its detainer on 30 October; the Queens District Attorney’s Office says it sought $10,000 bail but was not the custodial agency responsible for the request. Federal records list convictions including robbery, assault and weapons possession, and an immigration judge issued a final removal order in 2006; authorities say Reyes-Garcia later re-entered the US. New York City and state policies restrict local authorities’ co-operation with ICE, while federal officials estimate up to 7.3 million people without legal immigration status are in the country.