An independent investigation has been launched after a migrant sex offender, Hadush Kebatu, was mistakenly released from prison due to human error, prompting a review of prison procedures and a swift deportation plan, amid political criticism and concerns over rising release mistakes.
Lammy highlighted that a human error led to the accidental release of Hadush Kebatu, a migrant sex offender in the UK, which has been criticized as a national embarrassment by the Tories. Kebatu, who arrived in the UK via Channel crossing, was convicted of multiple sexual offenses and sentenced to prison but was mistakenly released and later rearrested after a police manhunt.
Brad Lander, NYC comptroller and mayoral candidate, was arrested by ICE agents at a Manhattan immigration courthouse while attempting to escort a migrant to prevent his arrest, amid increasing migrant arrests at the facility.
Four detainees escaped from Delaney Hall, a Newark immigration detention center, after days of deteriorating conditions, including poor meals, overcrowding, and heat, which led to a riot and the men punching through an exterior wall to escape. The incident has raised concerns about the safety and oversight of private detention facilities amid increased immigration enforcement.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed a migrant threatened to kill President Trump, but investigators believe the migrant was set up and did not write the threatening letter, which may have been sent by someone else to benefit their own interests. The investigation is ongoing, and the individual involved has not been charged with threatening Trump.
A witness has testified that New York City assisted a migrant, who is now accused of killing Laken Riley, in relocating to Georgia. This development has raised questions about the city's role in the movement of individuals who may pose a threat to public safety.
A 19-year-old migrant, Bernardo Raul Castro Mata, has been charged with shooting two NYPD officers and allegedly told police he was recruited by the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang for moped-based robberies in NYC. Mata, who entered the US illegally, was arraigned on attempted murder charges and is suspected of participating in multiple robberies. The gun used in the shooting was traced to a stolen firearm from North Carolina.
Venezuelan migrant Bernardo Castro Mata, accused of shooting two NYPD officers, is also suspected of involvement in violent snatch-and-grab robberies in Queens. Mata, part of a moped-riding robbery crew, allegedly attacked two women and stole their belongings. The incident has sparked criticism from former President Donald Trump, who blamed President Biden's border policies for the rise in migrant-related crimes.
Two NYPD officers were injured in a shootout with a robbery suspect on a moped in East Elmhurst, Queens. The suspect, identified as 19-year-old Venezuelan migrant Bernardo Raul Castro Mato, fired at the officers after a foot chase, hitting one officer in the leg and another in the vest. Both officers were treated and released from the hospital, while the suspect was also injured and arrested. Mayor Eric Adams and Police Commissioner Edward Caban praised the officers' professionalism and the hospital staff's efforts.
Two NYPD officers were shot in Queens by 19-year-old Venezuelan migrant Bernardo Castro Mata, who entered the US illegally last year. The officers were investigating a robbery pattern when they encountered Mata, who fired at them with an illegal pistol. Both officers were treated and released from the hospital, while Mata, who was also injured, faces charges including attempted murder of a police officer. The incident has sparked criticism over the handling of migrants and public safety.
Former President Donald Trump claimed to have spoken with the family of a Michigan woman fatally shot by an undocumented migrant, but the victim's sister refuted this claim. Ruby Garcia, 25, was found dead last month, allegedly shot by her boyfriend, Mexican national Brandon Ortiz-Vite, who had been deported in 2020 and reentered the U.S. illegally. Trump's comments during a campaign speech in Grand Rapids sparked criticism, as he mistakenly stated Garcia's age as 17 instead of 25. Ortiz-Vite has been charged with multiple offenses and remains in custody.
A 26-year-old migrant from Haiti, Cory Alvarez, has been charged with aggravated rape of a 15-year-old girl at a hotel in Rockland being used to house migrants. The victim, who speaks French Creole, reported that Alvarez raped her in his room while she was seeking help with an app on her tablet. The incident has sparked outrage, with a state representative expressing sympathy for the victim and criticizing the handling of the situation. Alvarez is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing and has been ordered to surrender his passport and have no contact with the girl while in custody.
The case against Virgilio Aguilar Mendez, a 19-year-old migrant from Guatemala accused of aggravated homicide of a Florida police officer, has been dismissed due to concerns about his intellectual capacity and recent ruling finding him mentally incompetent to stand trial. Aguilar Mendez, who primarily speaks the indigenous language Mam, was arrested after a struggle with the officer, who later died of a heart attack. His lawyer argued that he comes from a poor family and was raised in a home with a dirt floor, and that his mental incompetence is due to his lack of understanding of the American criminal justice system. Despite the dismissal of state charges, he will remain in federal custody pending deportation proceedings.
Despite Donald Trump's claims of a migrant crime wave, expert analysis and available data from major-city police departments show no evidence of a migrant-driven crime wave in the United States. National crime data, especially pertaining to undocumented immigrants, is incomplete, but studies show that in Texas, where police do record immigration status, migrants commit fewer crimes per capita. Trump's arguments are not new, as opponents of immigration have long tried to make the case that migrants bring crime, but the available data does not support this claim.
Venezuelan migrant Jose Antonio Ibarra, charged with the murder of nursing student Laken Riley, allegedly disfigured her skull with an unidentified object during a brutal attack. Affidavits revealed grim details, including preventing Riley from making a 911 call and concealing her death. The suspect faces multiple charges, including felony murder and kidnapping, and had previously evaded law enforcement and immigration officials. The case has prompted the appointment of a special prosecutor, and Riley is set to be mourned at funeral services.