Guyanese National To Appear In US Court On Murder Charge

NEW YORK, New York Thursday, January 16, 2020 (CMC) – The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) agency says it has lodged a detainer with the New York Police Department (NYPD), following the arrest of a Guyana-born suspect in the murder of a 92-year-old New York resident.

ICE said that Reeaz Khan, 21, an illegal immigrant, was arrested January 10 and charged with murder, sexual abuse, contact by forcible compulsion, and sexual abuse against a person incapable of consent. He was due to appear in court late yesterday.

Khan was previously released from local law enforcement custody in November 2019, with an active detainer, due to New York City’s sanctuary policies, ICE said.

“It is made clear that New York City’s stance against honouring detainers is dangerously flawed. It was a deadly choice to release a man, on an active ICE detainer, back onto the streets, after his first arrest included assault and weapon charges, and he now faces new charges, including murder,” said Thomas R. Decker, a senior ICE official.

“New York City’s sanctuary policies continue to threaten the safety of all residents of the five boroughs, as they repeatedly protect criminal aliens, who show little regard for the laws of this nation,” he added.

Decker said in New York City alone, hundreds of arrestees are released each month, with pending charges and or convictions, to return back into the communities, where they committed their crimes, instead of being transferred into the custody of ICE.

“Clearly, the politicians care more about criminal, illegal aliens than the citizens they are elected to serve and protect.”

ICE said that, on November 27, Khan was arrested by the police on charges of assault and criminal possession of a weapon.

It said that on the same day, deportation officers lodged a detainer with the police, but it was not honoured, and Khan was released, following arraignment.

“The detainer asks the other law enforcement agency to notify ICE in advance of release and to maintain custody of the alien for a brief period of time, so that ICE can take custody of that person in a safe and secure setting, upon release from that agency’s custody,” ICE added.