Nearly 7,000 undocumented immigrants with criminal records have been released onto the streets of New York since Donald Trump resumed his presidency, without alerting the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office.

On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security disclosed to the New York Post that these offenders, some convicted of serious crimes like rape and murder, were allowed bail, granted parole, or released without notifying the agency.

Federal officials are now pressing New York Attorney General Letitia James, who recently faced and overcame charges from the Trump administration, to ensure that 7,113 more individuals still in custody will be transferred to ICE at the completion of their sentences.

This demand coincides with rising tensions in New York, where citizens are protesting the presence of ICE agents, with demonstrations escalating into violence during a raid in Downtown Manhattan over the weekend.

In a letter addressed to her office, DHS cautioned James, stating, “These individuals are not only illegally present in the country but have also committed further crimes, including serious offenses like murder, rape, possession of child pornography, and armed robbery.”

The demand letter was signed by acting ICE Director Todd Lyons. 

It stated there are 6,947 illegal aliens with active ICE detainers who have been released from custody since January 20, when Trump returned to the White House.

‘Virtually all Americans agree that people like this should be swiftly removed from the United States when they leave New York’s custody and not be returned to our streets to wreak havoc on law abiding citizens,’ Lyons wrote. 

It comes as New Yorkers demonstrate against the arrival of ICE agents across the state, with protests turning violent on Saturday during a raid in Downtown Manhattan

Anderson Smith Satuye Martinez (right) and Jose David Hernandez (left) were both released before being caught by ICE

There are 6,947 illegal aliens with active ICE detainers who have been released from custody since January 20, when Trump returned to the White House

Among the dangerous offenders who were released was Crips gang member Anderson Smith Satuye Martinez, who was arrested in August for criminal possession of a weapon and possession of a controlled substance.

He was released from Rikers Island back into the community despite having an ICE detainer against his name.

ICE agents picked him up in the Bronx on September 11 and deported.

According to the department, James received a similar letter back on September 15, but the warning went unanswered.

New York has sanctuary laws in place which prevent local law enforcement officers from cooperating with federal agents. 

In addition to the illegal migrants who were already released, there are as many as 7,113 who remain locked up in custody with active detainers.

These criminals are responsible for 148 homicides, 717 assaults, 260 sexual offenses, 134 burglaries and 235 dangerous drug offenses. 

‘Please confirm whether the State of New York plans to honor detainers on these aliens or whether each of these barbarians will someday walk the streets of New York again,’ the letter notes.

Criminal migrant Alexander Moreno (pictured) was released by local authorities but later caught by ICE

Authorities are demanding New York Attorney General Letitia James – who was recently indicted by the Trump administration but had the case tossed out – hand over the criminal migrants

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin slammed James and ‘her fellow New York Sanctuary politicians’, accusing them of ‘releasing murderers, terrorists, and sexual predators back into our neighborhoods and putting American lives at risk.

‘We are calling on Letitia James to stop this dangerous derangement and commit to honoring the ICE arrest detainers of the more than 7,000 criminal illegal aliens in New York’s custody.

‘It is common sense. Criminal illegal aliens should not be released back onto our streets to terrorize more innocent Americans.’

It comes just days after more than 150 demonstrators attempted to block agents during a raid in Downtown Manhattan on Saturday.

Activists lined up trashcans and plant pots in the road in an attempt to barricade agents as they conducted a sting in Chinatown. The demonstration erupted after rumors spread ICE agents would be rounding up illegal immigrants in the area later this weekend.

Large groups of protesters quickly began grouping around a garage where ICE agents were reportedly mustering before the chaos broke loose.

Demonstrators threw trash and cardboard boxes into the street and stood in front of moving vehicles in an attempt to prevent the raid. 

Video from Freedom TV showed the NYPD clashing with protesters and desperately trying to clear the roadway, with some protesters violently shoved out of the way of white vans.

It comes just days after more than 150 demonstrators attempted to block agents during a raid in Downtown Manhattan on Saturday

‘They were instructed multiple times to disperse, and they did not comply. As a result, multiple individuals were taken into custody,’ a NYPD spokesperson told the Daily Mail 

Some protesters were seen pouring water in their eyes after being pepper sprayed. It is unclear who sprayed people. 

Other demonstrators were seen blocking a driveway while NYPD and what appeared to be ICE agents blocked the entrance into the garage. 

‘You people are scum!’ one man yelled as police surrounded a person on the ground. ‘F**king scum!’ 

‘You disgusting, you guys, man,’ another man yelled. ‘F**k all y’all, man. New York!’

In October, federal agents shut down Canal Street to target illegal street vendors. A bag vendor reportedly sprinted up and down Canal Street shouting: ‘ICE is here’ and pointing to unmarked cars.

Trump had contemplated sending in the National Guard as he had to other liberal cities, but paused his plans after meeting with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

Despite trash talking the Democrat socialist during the run-up to the local elections, Trump was impressed by Mamdani and felt no rush to intervene after the friendly catch up.

‘If they need it. Right now, other places need it more, but if they need it,’ he said, before gushing about his meeting with Mamdani. 

Despite trash talking the Democrat socialist during the run-up to the local elections, Trump was impressed by Mamdani and felt no rush to intervene with National Guard troops in New York City after the friendly catch up 

‘We had a very good meeting. We talked about that, but if they need it, I would do it.’

The president went as far as saying conservatives are going to be surprised by Mamdani, who rose to power on a wave of support from younger voters frustrated by sky-high property prices.

‘I think he’s gonna surprise some conservative people, actually,’ Trump said after their meeting. ‘And some very liberal people he won’t surprise because they already like him.’

Mamdani, 34, was elected in a landslide result last month. He is widely seen as a next generation leader of the Democratic party.

The president said he would ‘absolutely’ live in a Mamdani-run New York City and that he has ‘very little doubt’ the unlikely pair agree on crime policy. 

Mamdani said he spoke to the president about affordability and ICE operations in New York as well as bringing down costs as inflation eats away at middle class earnings. 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported in October that it had deported 527,000 illegal migrants this year, with the figure expected to reach 600,000 by year’s end.

Another 1.6 million, officials said, had ‘voluntarily self-deported.’

The White House set a goal of one million immigration-related arrests in 2025, and a daily arrest target of 3,000. In reality, the average number of daily arrests barely tops 700.