Federal Immigration Officials Urge New York Authorities to Detain Salvadoran National Accused of Raping Teenager
Federal immigration officials are urging New York authorities not to release a 59-year-old Salvadoran national accused of raping a 16-year-old girl on Long Island. The Department of Homeland Security has lodged an immigration detainer against Aureliano Antonio Melendez Reyes, who is facing charges of rape, sexual abuse, and endangering the welfare of a child in Suffolk County.
The alleged assault took place on June 6 in Huntington, where Reyes reportedly approached the girl multiple times, forced her into an alley, and sexually assaulted her after she refused to give him her phone number. The girl managed to escape, call 911, and flee from Reyes, who was allegedly chasing her.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney expressed deep concern over the case, emphasizing the importance of prosecuting individuals who pose serious threats to the community's safety, especially children. Reyes, who entered the U.S. illegally and received a final removal order in 1998, should not have been able to commit such a heinous crime, according to DHS acting assistant secretary Lauren Bis.
DHS is calling on Governor Kathy Hochul and other sanctuary politicians in New York to ensure that Reyes is not released from jail and to turn him over to ICE. The agency highlighted the risk posed by releasing criminal illegal immigrants into New York communities, citing the release of nearly 7,000 such individuals since January 20, 2025, many of whom were involved in violent crimes.
Furthermore, DHS revealed that over 7,000 individuals currently in New York custody are the subject of active federal immigration detainers. Fox News Digital has reached out to Hochul's office and the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office for their comments on the matter.
In conclusion, federal immigration officials are urging New York authorities to prevent the release of a Salvadoran national accused of raping a 16-year-old girl and to cooperate with ICE to ensure that he faces appropriate consequences for his actions. The case underscores the importance of addressing the issue of criminal illegal immigrants in the state and prioritizing public safety.