Staten Island Rep Joins ICE Field Director About Governor Hochul’s New Law Protecting Immigrants, Possible Impacts On Enforcement, New Federal Funding

Malliotakis Joins ICE to Sound Alarm on Hochul Sanctuary Law and Highlight New Federal Funding

Editor’s note: This press conference and meeting is regarding the new law signed by Governor Hochul recently which does several things: it reiterates New York’s refusal to honor detainers issued by ICE administrators; it forbids agents from entering schools, houses of worship, or courthouses in the State without a judicial warrant, signed by an actual judge. Administrative warrants, signed by an ICE agent’s supervisor, are not acceptable at such sensitive locations. This law, whose introduction we reported on, became necessary, in the Governor’s opinion, amidst reports that most of those detained were not violent, had been here for decades in many cases without committing any crimes, and were subjected to inhumane conditions (such as those reported in Newark, where protests have been ongoing while a hunger strike goes on inside the detention center to bring attention to these issues). Stay tuned this week for our reporting from Bloomfield New Jersey, demonstrating that these laws work and are respected by ICE.

(NEW YORK, NY) — Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) will be joined by Kenneth Genalo, New York City Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to discuss Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State’s recent sanctuary law changes and the negative impact they will have on ICE’s operations and public safety.

Malliotakis will also discuss her legislation to protect federal law enforcement officers, recent ICE enforcement efforts, and new federal funding included in the reconciliation package.

WHO:

• Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)
• Kenneth Genalo, Field Office Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations, New York City, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

WHERE:

Jacob K. Javits Federal Building

26 Federal Plaza

New York, NY 10278

WHEN:

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

3:00 PM

Malliotakis Joins ICE to Highlight Worst of Worst Arrests & Sound Alarm on Hochul Sanctuary Law

(NEW YORK, NY) — Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis joined Kenneth Genalo, New York City Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to discuss New York State’s recent sanctuary law changes and their impact on ICE operations and public safety, recent ICE enforcement efforts, her legislation to protect federal law enforcement officers, and new federal funding included in the Secure America Act.

The two highlighted the new federal funding included in S.2, the Secure America Act, a nearly $70 billion reconciliation package that ensures Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations continue uninterrupted by fully funding both agencies through September 30, 2029, covering the remainder of President Trump’s term.

The Secure America Act invests nearly $70 billion in border security, immigration enforcement, and homeland security operations, including:

• $38 billion for ICE, including funding for personnel, Homeland Security Investigations, immigration enforcement operations, transportation, information technology, facility and fleet maintenance, 287(g) agreements, legal operations, and certain arrests related to immigration enforcement.
• Includes $108.5 million for Homeland Security Investigations to conduct child sexual exploitation and abuse investigations.
• $26 billion for CBP, including funding for personnel, border security technology, screening, and immigration enforcement activities.
• Includes $3.4 billion for the procurement and upgrades of cutting-edge border surveillance and screening technology along the southwest, northern, and maritime borders of the United States.
• $5 billion for DHS contingency funding for unexpected and unplanned security-related expenses, including reimbursements to state and local governments participating in homeland security and border enforcement operations with federal law enforcement.

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Malliotakis and Genalo addressed Governor Kathy Hochul’s sanctuary law changes included in the New York State Budget, which will limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities and make it more difficult for ICE to carry out its duties and keep the public safe.

Additionally, they highlighted recent examples of individuals ICE was able to detain in New York City, including those convicted of robbery, manslaughter, and sex crimes. According to the New York Post, citing ICE data, New York’s failure to honor ICE detainers has led to the release of 6,947 criminal illegal aliens in the state since January 20, 2025.

Recent Examples Include:

On May 13, 2026, ICE New York City arrested Franklin Alexi GRANADOS Chavez, a 31-year-old citizen of El Salvador. GRANADOS’ has been convicted  of rape in the second degree in Suffolk County, NY, sentenced to 10-year probation and order of protection.

On May 20, 2026, ICE New York City arrested Jose FUENTES-Saravia, a 29-year-old citizen of El Salvador. FUENTES’ criminal history includes a conviction for sexual abuse 1st: sexual contact with individual less than 11 years old in Suffolk County, NY.

On May 20, 2026, ICE New York City arrested Blas Alberto DIAZ, a 63-year-old citizen of El Salvador. DIAZ’s criminal history includes a conviction for sexual contact with a person incapable of consent in Nassau County, NY, sentenced to 11 months imprisonment.

On May 20, 2026, ICE New York City arrested Daniel ANTONIO Castellanos, a 40- year-old citizen of Mexico. ANTONIO’s criminal history includes an arrest for  forcible touching – touch sexual/intimate parts of another person in Newburgh, NY.

On May 21, 2026, ICE New York City arrested Benjamin QUIJADA, a 51-year-old citizen of El Salvador. QUIJADA’ s criminal history includes a conviction for assault 3rd degree in Kew Gardens, NY, sentenced to 60 days imprisonment. QUIJADA is wanted by the Annapolis, MD Police Department on a full extradition warrant for the crimes of sex abuse of minor and child abuse 1st degree.

On May 22, 2026, ICE New York City arrested Jose Israel CHAPA-Flores, a 42-year-old native and citizen of Ecuador. CHAPA’s criminal history includes convictions of forcible touching – touch sexual/intimate parts of another person and act in manner injure child less than 17 in Suffolk County, NY.

On May 22, 2026, ICE New York City arrested Vicente MEJIA-Marquez, a 31-year-old native and citizen of El Salvador. MEJIA’s criminal history includes a conviction for rape 3rd: actor 21 or more – vaginal sexual contact with person under 17 in Suffolk County, NY.

On May 22, 2026, ICE New York City arrested Mosiah WRIGHT, a 49-year-old citizen of Jamaica. WRIGHTS’ criminal history includes a conviction for murder in Bloomington, MN, sentenced to 16 years imprisonment.

On June 4, 2026, ICE New York City arrested Keimi Udiel REYES-Monzon, a 38-year-old citizen of Guatemala. REYES’s criminal history includes a conviction for contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor in Jackson County, Oregon, sentenced to 20-day imprisonment and 2 years’ probation.

On June 4, 2026, ICE New York City arrested Hector LOPEZ, a 39-year-old citizen of Mexico. LOPEZ’s criminal history includes a conviction for sexual abuse of a child under 14 in Kingston, NY, sentenced to 1 year imprisonment.

On June 8, 2026, ICE New York City arrested Kerin Saddy RODRIGUEZ Ulloaa 33-year-old citizen of Honduras. RODRIGUEZ is a known agitator, continuously conducting surveillance, stalking, and  following officers from local offices. RODRIGUEZ will also consistently harasses and agitate officers and agents conducting enforcement operations.

On June 9, 2026, ICE New York City arrested Emilio CUA-Monroy, a 39 year-old citizen of Guatemala.  CUA’s criminal history includes a conviction for attempted lewd and lascivious conduct in Martin County, FL for which he was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment.

On June 9, 2026, ICE New York City arrested Omar RAMIREZ Lopez, a 30-year-old citizen of Guatemala.  RAMIREZ’s criminal history includes convictions on two counts of sexual abuse in the District of Columbia.

On June 10, 2026, ICE New York City arrested Muhammet Bora HAYVE, a 22 year-old citizen of Turkmenistan.  HAYVE’s criminal history includes prior arrests for bail jumping and trespassing. Most recently he was recklessly driving an e-bike and ran over an off-duty FBI agent causing substantial injuries.

On May 6, 2026, ICE New York City arrested Jhonathan SANCHEZ-Vargas, a 25-year-old citizen of Dominican Republic. SANCHEZ’s criminal history includes an arrest by the New York Police Department for attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and reckless endangerment.

On June 9, 2026, ICE New York City arrested Georgii GABIEV, a 34-year-old citizen of Russia. GABIEV’s criminal history includes a conviction for criminal vehicular operation in Minnesota, sentenced to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment.

Malliotakis also highlighted her legislation, H.R. 8796, the Federal Halo Act, to protect federal law enforcement officers. If enacted, the legislation would create a commonsense safety buffer to better protect federal law enforcement officers from threats, harassment, and interference while they are carrying out their duties. The legislation specifically targets agitators and individuals who interfere with or disrupt law enforcement operations to keep both law enforcement and the public safe.

“While Governor Kathy Hochul and New York Democrats continue to double down and put public safety at risk with dangerous sanctuary policies, the Secure America Act ensures ICE and CBP have the resources they need to enforce our immigration laws and remove dangerous criminals like the murderers, rapists and child sex abusers ICE arrested in recent weeks. Sadly, too many Americans have lost their lives as a result of misguided local governments’ sanctuary policies, including Richard Williams and Laken Riley, whose murderers were previously released back onto our streets because of New York’s sanctuary and bail laws,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis.

“It is great to be with Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, and I thank her for her continued support of ICE and our law enforcement officers,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations New York City Field Operations Director Kenneth Genalo. “Sanctuary policies implemented in New York City and New York State diminish public safety and make ICE’s job more difficult. ICE’s mission is to keep the public safe by removing illegal aliens from our communities, including criminal aliens convicted of rape, sexual abuse of children, assault, robbery, and weapons offenses. When local jurisdictions refuse to cooperate with ICE, dangerous criminals are released back onto our streets instead of being turned over to federal law enforcement putting public safety at risk.”

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis pictured with Kenneth Genalo, New York City Field Office Director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.

See the press conference here. 

Last year, Congresswoman Malliotakis’ Freedom of Information Law request found that more than 16,000 crimes occurred in or near taxpayer-funded migrant shelters in New York City, including more than 11,000 tied to one of the seven major felony offenses: murder, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand larceny, or grand larceny of a motor vehicle.

Banner Image:  Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis pictured with Kenneth Genalo, New York City Field Office Director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations