The Department of Homeland Security criticized New York City officials after local authorities released Alpha Bah, a Guinean national accused of aggravated assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon, despite Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers, according to a report citing DHS and ICE statements.
ICE detainers allegedly ignored
Federal officials said Bah was arrested on October 7 on charges including aggravated assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, and intent to obtain transportation without paying. ICE said it filed a detainer with Queens Central Booking that day, but the NYPD released him without notifying immigration authorities. Officials also said a prior detainer for Bah was ignored in June after a transportation-related arrest.
According to the same account, Bah entered the United States illegally in November 2023, was arrested by Border Patrol in Arizona, and later released under Biden administration policies. Officials further said Bah was arrested in January 2025 on a criminal trespass charge and released before ICE could lodge a detainer.
DHS blasts “sanctuary” policies
In a press release attributed to DHS, Secretary Markwayne Mullin linked the releases to what he described as New York’s “sanctuary” policies. “This illegal alien from Guinea was arrested for assaulting a police officer with a deadly weapon. Despite these violent charges, New York City sanctuary politicians refused to honor ICE’s detainer and released him back onto the streets, and he remains at large,” Mullin said, while urging state and city leaders to change course.
ICE: brief manhunt ends in arrest
ICE stated it located and arrested Bah on October 30 after a brief manhunt, taking him into custody without incident. A post on X attributed to the agency on October 31 said officers tracked him “through intelligence gathering and surveillance” after “Sanctuary NYC released Bah TWICE despite ICE detainers.”
What remains unclear
The report does not include court records, NYPD statements, or independent documents confirming the charges, custody decisions, or the full timeline. Some titles and attributions in the statements cited may not match current public offices.
