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

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 illegal alien, 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 immigration 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.

The post 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 appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.