In connection with the case of undocumented tourists attacking police officers in Times Square, a suspect was arrested in transit_1

In an alarming incident in Times Square earlier this year, over a dozen undocumented immigrants brutally assaulted two police officers, one of whom was of Asian descent. Following multiple arrests by the NYPD, one suspect was apprehended by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on October 16 while being transferred from the city’s Department of Corrections.

Back in January, two officers were attempting to disperse a crowd blocking the road when one individual refused to comply with their orders, triggering a violent clash that left Officer Ben Kurian and Officer Zunxu Tian injured. Subsequent investigations revealed that the suspects were undocumented immigrants with connections to the Venezuelan gang known as “Tren de Aragua.”

Darwin Andres Gomez Izquiel was identified as one of the assailants. He had previously been arrested by the NYPD, only to be detained again by ICE after his release. According to ICE, Izquiel illegally entered the U.S. through Texas in August 2023, bypassing border patrol inspections.

Authorities stated that Izquiel retracted his application to enter the U.S. after receiving an expedited removal order and voluntarily returned to Mexico. However, in October 2023, border patrol agents caught him attempting to re-enter the U.S. once again without inspection. He received a notice to appear in immigration court but was ultimately released. ICE officials noted, “There’s no indication that he adhered to the instructions given.”

Following his arrest by the NYPD, Izquiel was convicted of assaulting an officer. An ICE criminal arrest officer reported that he was immediately taken into custody after his release from city detention. Currently, he is being held pending deportation. Kenneth Genalo, Director of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, emphasized, “Izquiel is a criminal who poses a threat to employees, residents, and businesses in New York City. We will not allow our community to become a sanctuary for non-citizens who disregard the law.”

Previously, ICE had also arrested two other suspects involved in the attack, confirming their affiliation with the Tren de Aragua transnational crime organization. The city’s Department of Corrections stated that they had processed ICE’s detention request according to local laws. Izquiel had been sentenced to 364 days in jail for his assault conviction earlier in July.