A Central American alien ordered removed from the U.S. in the 1990s has been arrested for brutally raping a teenage girl in New York, authorities say.
The horrific attack unfolded on June 6 in Huntington, a town on Long Island.
A 16-year-old girl was walking home when she was reportedly approached by Aureliano Antonio Melendez Reyes, 59.
The girl says Melendez Reyes demanded her phone number and when she declined, he forced her into an alley, ripped her clothes off, and proceeded to sexually assault her.
The victim eventually managed to break free, climb a fence, and call 911 as Melendez Reyes continued to pursue her.
Suffolk County police arrived and arrested Melendez Reyes.
He has since been charged with rape, sexual abuse, and endangering the welfare of a child.
Melendez Reyes, a citizen of El Salvador, illegally entered the U.S. at an unknown location and date, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this week.
In 1998, he was issued a final order of removal by a federal immigration judge, but apparently remained in the U.S. ever since.
“This monster is charged with rape, sexual abuse, and endangering the welfare of a child after he raped a 16-year-old girl who was walking home. This sexual predator NEVER should have been in our country and able to prey on this innocent girl,” said DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis.
“DHS is calling on Governor Kathy Hochul and her fellow sanctuary politicians in New York to commit to not releasing this criminal illegal alien from jail and to turn him over to ICE. New York sanctuary politicians must not release criminals from jail into New York communities.”
In 2025, officials in the sanctuary state of New York ignored ICE detainers on nearly 7,000 criminal illegal aliens and released them back to the streets, despite many have shocking rap sheets that included convictions for murder, sexual assault, and robbery.
