NEW: ICE Lodges Detainer Request for Illegal Alien Arrested After Raping 16-Year-Old Girl in New York – Immigration Judge Ordered Alien’s Removal Nearly 30 Years Ago

by
Mugshot of a middle-aged man with a bald head and a serious expression, wearing a green prison uniform against a gray background.
Antonio Mendez Reyes, 59

A Salvadoran , who was issued a final order of removal in 1998, yet remained in the country, was indicted on Tuesday after raping a 16-year-old girl in Huntington, Long Island, New York, while she was walking home. 

Antonio Melendez Reyes, 59, has been indicted on charges of rape, sexual abuse, and endangering the welfare of a child after the June 6 rape. He entered the country illegally at an unknown date and time. On July 10, 1998, a Department of Justice (DOJ) Immigration Judge issued Reyes a final order of removal, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Reports indicate that Reyes forced the teen into an alley after she refused to give him her number. She was able to escape, scale a fence, and call 911 as Reyes continued to chase her.

More from News 12:

“This monster is charged with rape, sexual abuse, and endangering the welfare of a child after he raped a 16-year-old girl who was walking home. This sexual predator NEVER should have been in our country and able to prey on this innocent girl,” said DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis.

“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. New York sanctuary politicians must not release criminals from jail into New York communities.”

DHS lodged an detainer request, asking the state of New York to turn the illegal over to federal authorities for deportation. However, the sanctuary city of New York has a history of noncompliance.

DHS notes in a press release,

As of December 1, 2025, New York’s failure to honor ICE detainers has resulted in the release of 6,947 criminal illegal aliens since January 20, 2025. The crimes of these aliens include 29 homicides, 2,509 assaults, 199 burglaries, 305 robberies, 392 dangerous drugs offenses, 300 weapons offenses, and 207 sexual predatory offenses.

As of December 1, 2025, 7,113 aliens in the custody of a New York jurisdiction have an active detainer. The crimes of these aliens include 148 homicides, 717 assaults, 134 burglaries, 106 robberies, 235 dangerous drugs offenses, 152 weapons offenses, and 260 sexual predatory offenses.

Photo of author
Jordan Conradson
Jordan Conradson is The Gateway Pundit's White House correspondent. Jordan has played a critical role in exposing fraud and corruption in Arizona's elections and elected officials. His reporting on election crimes in Maricopa County led to the resignation of one election official, and he was later banned from the Maricopa County press room for his courage in pursuit of the truth. TGP and Jordan finally gained access after suing Maricopa County, America's fourth largest county, and winning at the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Conradson looks forward to bringing his aggressive style of journalism to the Swamp.

You can email Jordan Conradson here, and read more of Jordan Conradson's articles here.

Ad block users: Some site features may not work correctly while an ad blocker is enabled, because they break scripts and content this website depends on. If you can't see comments below, for example, please disable your ad blocker.

 

Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
We invite you to become a Gateway Pundit insider. Sign up for our free email newsletter, and we'll make sure to keep you in the loop.