Federal immigration officials are calling on New York authorities to refrain from releasing a 59-year-old Salvadoran national, who faces charges of raping a 16-year-old girl on Long Island. They emphasize that, if released from local custody, he should be handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Thursday that it has filed an immigration detainer against Aureliano Antonio Melendez Reyes. He faces charges in Suffolk County, including rape, sexual abuse, and endangering the welfare of a child.
Prosecutors and the DHS reported that the alleged assault took place on June 6 while the girl was returning to her home in Huntington.
Authorities allege that Reyes persistently approached the girl, requesting her phone number. When she declined, he purportedly forced her into an alley where he sexually assaulted her.
Federal immigration authorities have lodged a detainer against Aureliano Antonio Melendez Reyes, accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old on Long Island. (James Carbone/Newsday RM via Getty Images; Department of Homeland Security)
The girl was eventually able to break free and call 911 while running from Reyes, who was allegedly chasing her, according to DHS.
Responding officers took Reyes into custody.
“The allegations in this case are deeply disturbing,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement.
Aureliano Antonio Melendez Reyes, 59, is charged with rape, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child in Suffolk County, New York. (Department of Homeland Security)
“A 16-year-old girl should be able to walk safely without being targeted, pursued, and brutally assaulted. My office will continue to vigorously prosecute defendants who pose serious threats to our community’s safety, especially our children.”
According to DHS, Reyes entered the United States illegally at an unknown date and location and was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge in 1998.
“This sexual predator NEVER should have been in our country and able to prey on this innocent girl,” DHS acting assistant secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement.
A Suffolk County Police vehicle is at the scene of an investigation in Suffolk County, N.Y., with red lights flashing at night. (Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
“DHS is calling on Governor Kathy Hochul and her fellow sanctuary politicians in New York to commit to not releasing this criminal illegal alien from jail and to turn him over to ICE,” Bis continued.Â
“New York sanctuary politicians must not release criminals from jail into New York communities,” she added.
DHS said New York jurisdictions have released nearly 7,000 criminal illegal immigrants since Jan. 20, 2025.
Many of those individuals were accused of violent crimes, including homicide, assault, burglary and drug offenses, according to the agency.
DHS also said more than 7,000 individuals currently in New York custody are the subject of active federal immigration detainers.
News Media has reached out to Hochul’s office and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for comment.
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