A Venezuelan migrant, Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, accused of participating in a street brawl with two New York City police officers, has been arrested by immigration authorities after the city honored a detainer request, despite New York's sanctuary city policies.
Gomez-Izquiel, 19, was arrested upon release from local custody, as the New York City Department of Corrections honored a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer request. He remains in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings.
ICE New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo stated that Gomez-Izquiel is considered a criminal and a threat to public safety in New York City. ICE is committed to apprehending and removing violent criminal offenders who refuse to abide by the law.
Gomez-Izquiel was initially arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents in August 2023 but voluntarily returned to Mexico. He was arrested again in Texas on Oct. 3, 2023, after illegally crossing the southern border and failing to appear before an immigration judge.
In January, Gomez-Izquiel was involved in an attack on two NYPD officers outside a migrant shelter in Times Square, resulting in his conviction for assault and a jail sentence. Subsequently, he was arrested for his alleged role in a violent robbery at a Macy's department store in Queens.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry expressed concern over the repeated criminal activities of Gomez-Izquiel and his associates, highlighting the challenges posed by lenient laws in New York that allow such individuals to remain free despite their criminal behavior.
NYPD Detective Bureau Assistant Chief Jason Savino noted that a subset of the Venezuelan gang 'Los Diablos de la 42' has been involved in numerous crimes in New York, with 20 members arrested in 50 separate incidents. Savino emphasized the progression of criminal activities by this group and the lack of consequences they faced initially.
Authorities are working diligently to address the criminal activities of individuals like Gomez-Izquiel and ensure the safety of residents and businesses in New York City.
