The Department of Homeland Security has put Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker on blast, revealing that his sanctuary-state policies have allowed more than 1,700 convicted criminal illegal aliens, including murderers, kidnappers, and child predators, to be released back onto the streets since President Donald Trump took office in January.
In a scathing letter sent Sunday to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, ICE Director Todd Lyons demanded the state finally start honoring federal detainers for over 4,000 additional criminal aliens currently in custody.
Illinois has ignored every previous request since September.
DHS said in a press release:
Illinois’ failure to honor ICE detainers has resulted in the release of 1,768 criminal illegal aliens since January 20. The crimes of these aliens include 5 homicides, 141 assaults, 23 burglaries, 4 robberies, 24 dangerous drugs offenses, 15 weapons offenses, and 10 sexual predatory offenses.
There are currently 4,015 aliens in the custody of an Illinois jurisdiction with an active detainer. The crimes of these aliens include 51 homicides, 1,134 assaults, 107 burglaries, 36 robberies, 275 dangerous drugs offenses, 120 weapons offenses, and 813 sexual predatory offenses.
The agency noted, “In September, ICE sent a letter to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul asking for cooperation in honoring ICE detainers on criminal illegal aliens. His office did not respond.”
DHS also publicly named several of the worst offenders set free under Illinois policy, including individuals convicted of attempted murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault of a child, and kidnapping with ransom demands.
The offenders are listed as follows:
Victor Manuel Mendoza-Garcia, a 49-year-old illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested and convicted for 3 counts of aggravated kidnapping/ransom and sentenced to 18 years in Illinois Department of Corrections in Cook County Court in Illinois. ICE’s detainer for Mendoza-Garcia was not honored. On November 12, ICE arrested Mendoza-Garcia where he remains in ICE custody.
Juan Morales Martinez, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was arrested after a vehicle crash near Westfield, IL where he was a passenger. Early reports of the vehicle crash show two fatalities (a county board member and his wife). Police also found an extended magazine and ammunition in the vehicle. On October 25, ICE lodged a detainer on Morales Martinez. On October 27, ICE arrested Morales after his release from the Clark County Jail. The jail did not cooperate with ICE, but ICE officers suspected his release and performed an enforcement action outside. He has now been removed from the United States.
Amilcar Waldo Gonzalez-Jimenez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested and convicted for 1 count of driving under the influence and domestic battery and 2 counts of criminal sexual assault. ICE’s detainer for Gonzalez-Jimenez was not honored. On November 13, ICE arrested Gonzalez-Jimenez.
Juan Alberto Caro Marin, an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested and convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim/family and sentenced to 6 years in Illinois Department of Corrections. ICE’s detainer for Caro Marin was not honored. On November 9, ICE arrested Caro Marin where he is currently in ICE custody.
Jose Manuel Fuentes-Vargas, an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested for domestic battery, violation of protection order, and convicted of sexual assault of a victim less than 13 years of age. ICE’s detainer for Fuentes-Vargas was not honored. On October 30, ICE arrested Fuentes-Vargas where he is currently in ICE custody.
Leonardo Ignot-Osto, an illegal alien from Mexico, has illegally entered the U.S. at least four times. Ignot has a lengthy criminal history dating back to a December 27, 2010, conviction for theft in Cook County. Most recently on September 18, 2025, Cook County convicted Ignot for child abduction/lure child/victim for a child less than 17 years of age, sentencing him to 1 year imprisonment. Despite an Immigration Detainer lodged September 23, 2025, with the Cook County Jail, Ignot was released. ICE was able to locate and apprehend Ignot and on November 19, 2025, he was removed from the U.S.
Jaime Mandujano-Nunez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment in Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), after his February 9, 2012, conviction for Predatory Criminal Sex Assault of a Child in Cook County. On December 11, 2024, ERO Chicago lodged multiple Immigration Detainers with IDOC. However, on an unknown date, the IDOC released Mandujano back into the community without honoring ICE’s detainers. Mandujano was located and apprehended by ICE and on November 15, 2025, ICE removed him from the United States.
Alfonso Batalla Garcia, an illegal alien from Mexico, with a criminal history including arrests for battery, carrying/possessing a firearm, battery with bodily harm, domestic battery, and Cook County ultimately convicted Batalla in 2001 for attempted murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault with bodily harm, and aggravated kidnapping, sentencing him to 30 years in Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). IDOC refused to honor ICE’s Immigration Detainer and released Batalla on an unknown date. ICE was able to apprehend Batalla and removed him from the U.S. on November 5, 2025.
Guillermo Garcia-Porcayo, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, was arrested by Chicago PD for aggravated battery with great bodily harm. Garcia was then convicted on February 9, 2018 in Cook County of attempted murder with intent to kill and sentenced to 12 years with the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). On July 2, 2018, ERO Chicago lodged an Immigration Detainer with IDOC. On June 25, 2025, IDOC released Garcia back into the community without honoring ICE’s detainer. On July 15, 2025, ERO Chicago removed Garcia from the United States to Mexico.
“Governor Pritzker and his fellow Illinois sanctuary politicians are releasing murderers, pedophiles, and kidnappers back into our neighborhoods and putting American lives at risk,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “We are calling on Governor Pritzker and his administration to stop this dangerous derangement and commit to honoring the ICE arrest detainers of the more than 4,000 criminal illegal aliens in Illinois’ custody. It is common sense. Criminal illegal aliens should not be released back onto our streets to terrorize more innocent Americans.”
Illinois officials have not yet responded to the latest DHS letter.
The post DHS Drops Bombshell: Pritzker’s Sanctuary Illinois Released Over 1,700 Criminal Illegal Aliens, Including Murderers and Child Rapists, Since January appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.