A Cuban national, identified as José Antonio Andreo-Quezada, was released from Rikers Island jail in New York despite having a criminal record that includes charges of homicide and robbery.
He was subsequently re-arrested for violating his parole, a case that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uses to criticize "sanctuary city" policies that limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to a report from the New York Post, Andreo-Quezada is an undocumented immigrant with a history of crimes including homicide, theft, disorderly conduct, possession of stolen property, dangerous drugs, burglary, and assault.
Despite this background, he was released from Rikers Island and later arrested again for violating parole, at which point ICE promptly filed a detainer request dated August 16.
The Cuban's case is part of a broader list released by the DHS concerning immigrants with violent backgrounds who, according to the agency, have been freed in New York due to "sanctuary laws."
The report indicates that 6,947 offenders were released from city jails over the past year despite having active ICE detainers requesting their handover to federal authorities to initiate deportation proceedings.
The DHS argues that these restrictions on cooperation between local law enforcement and federal agencies allow "murderers to walk free" and that many others are poised for release.
As an additional example, the agency cited the case of Anastacio Tejada Almonte, a Dominican national with a record including homicide and violent offenses, who was reportedly released on July 27 despite an ICE detainer filed in May.
Similarly, the DHS mentioned Alex Jareth Martínez-Ávila, a Honduran immigrant with multiple charges, who was allegedly released despite an ICE detainer issued on May 26. He was later re-arrested for homicide and robbery, prompting ICE to file a new detainer on September 22, according to official reports.
The DHS report is part of a broader political narrative on public safety and immigration.
The agency claims that under the Trump administration, ICE has intensified efforts to detain and deport violent criminals while blaming sanctuary policies for limiting federal capacity to detain individuals with criminal backgrounds once they are released from local custody.
Cubans with Violent Crimes
In the specific case of José Antonio Andreo-Quezada, the official complaint does not provide additional details on when he entered the United States, how long he was detained at Rikers Island, or the specific nature of his parole violation. However, it presents him as a high-profile example to argue that when local authorities release individuals with criminal backgrounds and do not hand them over to ICE, the federal government is forced to pursue them again to restart their immigration process.
Another Cuban with an active deportation order was released from ICE custody in January 2025 by the Biden administration, citing a "lack of a significant likelihood of removal in the foreseeable future" due to Cuba's lack of cooperation on immigration matters.
The individual, identified as Yordanis Cobos-Martínez, age 37, was arrested in Dallas following a brutal machete murder that resulted in the decapitation of a motel manager in front of his wife and child.
The suspect also had a criminal history in the United States, including charges for false imprisonment in California, indecency with a minor in Texas (dismissed), vehicle theft in Florida (dismissed), and carjacking (acquitted, but convicted of false imprisonment).
Cobos-Martínez was apprehended shortly after the crime while walking armed on the sidewalk near a local store. Police noted that despite carrying a machete, he was arrested without the use of lethal force.
FAQ on Immigration and Sanctuary City Policies
What are sanctuary city policies?
Sanctuary city policies are local laws or practices that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, often to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation.
How does ICE use detainers?
ICE uses detainers to request that local law enforcement agencies hold individuals for up to 48 hours beyond their release time to allow ICE to take custody for immigration proceedings.
Why was Yordanis Cobos-Martínez released from ICE custody?
He was released because the Biden administration determined there was no significant likelihood of his deportation in the foreseeable future due to Cuba's lack of cooperation on immigration matters.