New York City officials won’t be handing over an illegal migrant accused of robbing a local prosecutor and performing a lewd act over to federal immigration authorities.
The Rikers Custody Management Unit said it will not be honoring a detainer request for Brandon Jesus Simoza Seijas, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation. Simoza, a Venezuelan national who has been repeatedly arrested by police this year, has remained in New York Department of Corrections custody at Rikers Island since he allegedly attacked an assistant prosecutor for District Attorney Alvin Bragg several days ago.
Federal immigration authorities also confirmed Simoza is an illegal migrant who entered the U.S. under the Biden-Harris administration.
“Brandon Jesus Simoza Seijas is an unlawfully present citizen of Venezuela who entered the United States without admission, inspection or parole by an immigration official,” an ICE spokesperson stated Monday to the DCNF. “U.S. Border Patrol encountered Simoza Oct. 18, 2023 in Del Rio, Texas, issued him a notice to appear and released him on his own recognizance.”
Simoza allegedly followed a 38-year-old female victim inside her apartment building on Nov. 17 around 2 a.m. and requested cash, according to a New York Police Department (NYPD) statement provided to the DCNF. Simoza then allegedly snatched the woman’s bank cards and cellphone, and performed a “lewd act” in front of her before fleeing the scene.
Simoza was ultimately arrested and charged on Tuesday following an investigation into the incident, the NYPD confirmed.
The female victim is reported to be an assistant prosecutor under Bragg, according to the Daily Mail. After allegedly robbing the woman, Simoza allegedly “began masturbating towards the victim for a period of several moments,” an assistant district attorney said during a court hearing.
Bragg’s office — which has long been accused of taking it easy on illegal migrant criminals — did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the DCNF.
The 25-year-old illegal migrant has been charged with sexually motivated robbery and burglary, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, petit larceny and criminal possession of a controlled substance, the NYPD confirmed to the DCNF. Local law enforcement also confirmed he is a homeless man with no listed address.
The incident with Bragg’s assistant prosecutor is far from Simoza’s first run-in with local law enforcement — and not the first time the NYPD has chosen to release him without handing him over to ICE.
“The NYPD has arrested Simoza on five other occasions in 2024, but he was released on his own recognizance before ERO New York City could lodge an immigration detainer,” an ICE spokesperson said to the DCNF. While some media reports have suggested that Simoza has ties to Tren de Aragua, federal immigration authorities on Monday said they have yet to confirm if he is a member of the Venezuela-based crime syndicate.
ICE’s statements marks the latest clash between the agency and New York City officials, despite growing calls from local law enforcement, lawmakers and even New York City Mayor Eric Adams to amend the city’s sanctuary laws to allow for more cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
“I think the previous administration made a big mistake,” Adams said in July, referring to sanctuary policies enacted by former Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I think we need to correct that aspect of it.”
“New Yorkers have a right to be safe in their city,” Adams continued. “The same way anyone breaks the law or does something violent to New Yorkers, I’m going to voice my concern about that.”
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