A Mexican citizen, Jesus Romero-Hernandez, who was in local custody after pleading guilty to assault charges, has been apprehended by federal law enforcement. The arrest follows his release from the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office despite a federal arrest warrant.
"The Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office in Ithaca, NY, a self-described sanctuary city, appears to have failed to honor a valid federal arrest warrant for a criminal alien with an assault conviction," stated Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove. "Yesterday, despite the warrant, a defendant with no legal status and a history of violence was released into the community. Federal agents risked their safety and pursued the defendant in unsafe conditions. Today, they were successful in recapturing the defendant."
Romero-Hernandez had been charged on January 8, 2024, with illegally reentering the United States after a prior removal. At that time, he was held by the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office awaiting resolution of New York State assault charges. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) provided a federal arrest warrant to the sheriff's office.
On January 28, 2025, after Romero-Hernandez resolved his state charges by pleading guilty to third-degree assault and receiving a sentence of time-served, he was released before ICE-ERO could take him into custody for arraignment on pending federal charges.
Federal agents from ICE/ERO captured Romero-Hernandez with help from the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York is investigating his release circumstances.
"The Justice Department will not tolerate actions that endanger law enforcement and make their jobs harder than they already are," Bove added. "We will use every tool at our disposal to prevent sanctuary city policies from impeding and obstructing lawful federal operations designed to make America safe again."
The charges against Romero-Hernandez remain accusations; he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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