ICE Warns Illinois of Public Safety Risks as State Releases Violent Criminal Illegal Aliens
CHICAGO, Ill. — The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has issued a stark warning to Illinois officials, highlighting the release of hundreds of violent criminal illegal aliens despite active immigration detainers. According to a letter from Todd Lyons, ICE’s senior official performing the duties of director, Illinois has freed 1,768 criminal aliens since January 2025, many of whom have been convicted of serious offenses including murder, rape, child pornography, and armed robbery.
Lyons emphasized that these individuals, described as “tens of thousands of criminal illegal aliens” currently in custody across the state, should be swiftly removed from the United States rather than returned to the streets where they pose a threat to law-abiding citizens. The agency’s concerns come amid ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement priorities and state or local policies that have declined to honor ICE detainers.
ICE provided detailed data showing that the crimes committed by these offenders span homicides, assaults, burglaries, weapons offenses, and sexual-predatory crimes. Furthermore, an additional 4,015 criminal aliens with pending detainers remain in state or local custody, including individuals linked to 51 homicides and more than 800 sexual-predatory offenses.
Among the released individuals are those convicted of violent crimes such as Alfonso Batalla Garcia, who was convicted of attempted murder, aggravated sexual assault, and aggravated kidnapping; Leonardo Ignot-Osto, a repeat illegal entry offender convicted of child abduction; and Victor Manuel Mendoza-Garcia, convicted of three counts of aggravated kidnapping. ICE officials have expressed frustration that Illinois agencies have failed to honor detainers, forcing federal officers to track down offenders after their release.
The agency’s warnings come as Illinois continues to grapple with public safety concerns and political debates over immigration enforcement. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has publicly criticized Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for their handling of criminal illegal immigrants, underscoring the federal government’s push for stricter cooperation.
Illinois’ approach contrasts with federal immigration enforcement policies outlined by the Department of Homeland Security, which encourages honoring detainers to prevent potentially dangerous individuals from reentering communities. The tension reflects broader national debates over sanctuary policies and the balance between public safety and immigrant rights.
The release of violent offenders has drawn sharp criticism from victims’ families and law enforcement officials. One grieving mother publicly condemned Governor Pritzker for what she described as protecting criminals after her daughter’s death was linked to an illegal immigrant. Advocates for stricter enforcement argue that honoring ICE detainers is critical to preventing repeat offenses and safeguarding communities.
ICE’s letter and accompanying data were shared with the public through media outlets, including ICE’s official news releases and coverage by major news organizations. The agency continues to call for Illinois and other states to cooperate fully with federal immigration authorities to ensure that individuals who pose a threat to public safety are not released prematurely.
As Illinois officials weigh their policies, federal authorities maintain that honoring immigration detainers is a vital tool in the effort to remove dangerous criminals from the country. The ongoing dispute highlights the complex intersection of immigration enforcement, state sovereignty, and community safety in the United States.
For more information on ICE enforcement priorities and detainer policies, visit the ICE Detainers page and the Department of Homeland Security immigration enforcement site.
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