President Trump blasted the “Sanctuary City of New York” for causing the brutal rape and murder of a 92-year-old woman last month by failing to turn over a criminal alien to the federal government for deportation.
“Tragically, there are many cities in America where radical politicians have chosen to provide sanctuary for these criminal illegal aliens. In sanctuary cities, local officials order police to release dangerous criminal aliens to prey upon the public, instead of handing them over to ICE to be safely removed,” Trump said during Tuesday’s State of the Union address.
“Just 29 days ago, a criminal alien freed by the sanctuary city of New York was charged with the brutal rape and murder of a 92-year-old woman. The killer had been previously arrested for assault, but under New York’s sanctuary policies, he was set free. If the city had honored ICE’s detainer request, his victim would be alive today,” the president said.
As reported by The Post last month, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it lodged a detainer request with the NYPD for Reeaz Khan, an illegal immigrant from Guyana, on Nov. 27 — the same day he was busted for allegedly attacking his dad during a fight in their South Richmond Hill home.
Khan, 21, was accused of using a broken ceramic mug to slash the chest and arm of his father, 41, who then had to be hospitalized.
Khan was charged with misdemeanor assault, criminal possession of a weapon and harassment, and released without bail after being slapped with a temporary order of protection for his dad, records show.
About six weeks later, Khan was busted in the sexual abuse and slaying of Maria Fuertes, 92, after she was found with her clothes pulled above her waist and near death on a Richmond Hill sidewalk at about 2 a.m. on Jan. 6.
Fuertes had been lying in the 32-degree weather for about two hours after being sexually assaulted and strangled, law-enforcement sources have said. She was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where she died from injuries that included a broken spine and rib fractures, according to court papers.
Cops received several tips identifying Khan as the attacker — including one from his brother — after releasing surveillance video, and he allegedly implicated himself before being arrested last Friday.
Trump echoed the criticism of Thomas Decker, New York field officer of enforcement and removal operations for ICE.
“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,” Decker said.
“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.”