WASHINGTON – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons sent a letter to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul calling on him to put the safety of Americans first and honor ICE arrest detainers of the more than 4,000 criminal illegal aliens in the state’s custody including murderers, sexual predators, and those convicted of or charged with weapons offenses.
Illinois’ failure to honor ICE detainers has resulted in the release of 1,768 criminal illegal aliens since January 20. The crimes of these aliens include 5 homicides, 141 assaults, 23 burglaries, 4 robberies, 24 dangerous drugs offenses, 15 weapons offenses, and 10 sexual predatory offenses.
There are currently 4,015 aliens in the custody of an Illinois jurisdiction with an active detainer. The crimes of these aliens include 51 homicides, 1,134 assaults, 107 burglaries, 36 robberies, 275 dangerous drugs offenses, 120 weapons offenses, and 813 sexual predatory offenses.
In September, ICE sent a letter to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul asking for cooperation in honoring ICE detainers on criminal illegal aliens. His office did not respond.
“Governor Pritzker and his fellow Illinois sanctuary politicians are releasing murderers, pedophiles, and kidnappers back into our neighborhoods and putting American lives at risk,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “We are calling on Governor Pritzker and his administration to stop this dangerous derangement and commit to honoring the ICE arrest detainers of the more than 4,000 criminal illegal aliens in Illinois’ custody. It is common sense. Criminal illegal aliens should not be released back onto our streets to terrorize more innocent Americans.”
Some of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens released by Governor Pritzker and his fellow Illinois sanctuary politicians include:
Victor Manuel Mendoza-Garcia, a 49-year-old illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested and convicted for 3 counts of aggravated kidnapping/ransom and sentenced to 18 years in Illinois Department of Corrections in Cook County Court in Illinois. ICE’s detainer for Mendoza-Garcia was not honored. On November 12, ICE arrested Mendoza-Garcia where he remains in ICE custody.
Juan Morales Martinez, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was arrested after a vehicle crash near Westfield, IL where he was a passenger. Early reports of the vehicle crash show two fatalities (a county board member and his wife). Police also found an extended magazine and ammunition in the vehicle. On October 25, ICE lodged a detainer on Morales Martinez. On October 27, ICE arrested Morales after his release from the Clark County Jail. The jail did not cooperate with ICE, but ICE officers suspected his release and performed an enforcement action outside. He has now been removed from the United States.
Amilcar Waldo Gonzalez-Jimenez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested and convicted for 1 count of driving under the influence and domestic battery and 2 counts of criminal sexual assault. ICE’s detainer for Gonzalez-Jimenez was not honored. On November 13, ICE arrested Gonzalez-Jimenez.
Leonardo Ignot-Osto, an illegal alien from Mexico, has illegally entered the U.S. at least four times. Ignot has a lengthy criminal history dating back to a December 27, 2010, conviction for theft in Cook County. Most recently on September 18, 2025, Cook County convicted Ignot for child abduction/lure child/victim for a child less than 17 years of age, sentencing him to 1 year imprisonment. Despite an Immigration Detainer lodged September 23, 2025, with the Cook County Jail, Ignot was released. ICE was able to locate and apprehend Ignot and on November 19, 2025, he was removed from the U.S.