ICE urges New York not to release Salvadoran national accused of raping 16-year-old girl on Long Island
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Federal immigration officials are urging New York authorities not to release a 59-year-old Salvadoran man accused of raping a 16-year-old girl on Long Island, saying he should instead be transferred to ICE custody if he is released locally.

The Department of Homeland Security said Thursday that it filed an immigration detainer for Aureliano Antonio Melendez Reyes, who is facing charges in Suffolk County including rape, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

Prosecutors and DHS said the alleged attack happened June 6 as the teenager was walking home in Huntington.

Investigators say Reyes approached the girl multiple times and asked for her phone number. After she refused, he allegedly dragged her into an alley and sexually assaulted her.

Federal immigration authorities have placed a detainer on Reyes, who is accused of attacking the 16-year-old on Long Island. (James Carbone/Newsday RM via Getty Images; Department of Homeland Security)

According to DHS, the girl was eventually able to escape and call 911 while running from Reyes, who was allegedly chasing her.

Responding officers took Reyes into custody.

“The allegations in this case are deeply disturbing,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement.

Aureliano Antonio Melendez Reyes, 59, is charged with rape, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child in Suffolk County, New York. (Department of Homeland Security)

“A 16-year-old girl should be able to walk safely without being targeted, pursued, and brutally assaulted. My office will continue to vigorously prosecute defendants who pose serious threats to our community’s safety, especially our children.”

According to DHS, Reyes entered the United States illegally at an unknown date and location and was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge in 1998.

“This sexual predator NEVER should have been in our country and able to prey on this innocent girl,” DHS acting assistant secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement.

A Suffolk County Police vehicle with red lights flashing at night.

A Suffolk County Police vehicle is at the scene of an investigation in Suffolk County, N.Y., with red lights flashing at night. (Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images)

“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,” Bis continued. 

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

DHS said New York jurisdictions have released nearly 7,000 criminal illegal immigrants since Jan. 20, 2025.

Many of those individuals were accused of violent crimes, including homicide, assault, burglary and drug offenses, according to the agency.

DHS also said more than 7,000 individuals currently in New York custody are the subject of active federal immigration detainers.

News Agency has reached out to Hochul’s office and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for comment.

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