A 59-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador was indicted on criminal charges in New York after allegedly forcing a teenager down an alley and sexually assaulting her.
Aureliano Antonio Melendez Reyes is accused of raping the 16-year-old girl in Suffolk County, New York. He was ordered removed from the country almost 30 years ago.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer against Reyes and asked sanctuary authorities in New York to not release him from jail or turn him over to ICE.
Charged with RAPING A 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL in Huntington June 6, we lodged a detainer asking sanctuary New York to not release Salvadoran illegal alien Aureliano Antonio Melendez Reyes from jail.
The girl was walking home when Reyes allegedly approached her and asked for her phone… pic.twitter.com/kaOyQjXyUa
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) June 27, 2026
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Reyes illegally entered the country at an unknown date and location. On July 10, 1998, a U.S. Department of Justice Immigration Judge issued Reyes a final order of removal.
“This sexual predator NEVER should have been in our country and able to prey on this innocent girl,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis.
Police arrested Reyes following the alleged assault on June 6. He was arraigned on the indictment on June 16.
He now faces four counts of rape, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. He is due back in court on July 21 and faced up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top count, according to local reports.
The assault reportedly occurred while the teen was walking home in Huntington, New York. Reyes allegedly approached her and repeatedly asked for her phone number. When she refused, he forced her into an alley and sexually assaulted her.
The victim, who was partially unclothed, managed to escape from him. She took off and climbed a tall fence and called 911, prosecutors said in a news release detailing the charges.
While on the phone with authorities, Reyes allegedly continued to pursue her. Police arrived on the scene and took him into custody.
“The allegations in this case are deeply disturbing,” District Attorney Raymond Tierney said. “A 16-year-old girl should be able to walk safely without being targeted, pursued, and brutally assaulted.”
Justice Karen M. Wilutis ordered Reyes held on $500,000 cash, $1,000,000 bond, or $5,000,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. However, New York is known for releasing sexual predators and other violent offenders while they await trail.
Reyes remained in the country illegally for nearly 30 years, protected by New York’s sanctuary policies.
DHS officials have said New York’s failure to honor ICE detainers resulted in the release of nearly 7,000 criminal illegal aliens since Jan. 20, 2025.
DHS has repeatedly called on Gov. Kathy Hochul and her fellow sanctuary politicians in New York to keep illegal immigrants accused of crimes behind bars or turn them over to federal authorities.
“New York sanctuary politicians must not release criminals from jail into New York communities,” Bis said.
News of Reyes’ arrest spread on social media, with ICE and crime X accounts sharing details of the disturbing allegations.
🚨 Suffolk County, NY: Illegal alien and Salvadoran national Antonio Melendez Reyes has been indicted for Rape and is accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl as she walked home.
"Melendez Reyes allegedly repeatedly asked the child for her phone number, which she… pic.twitter.com/8LzGVwk900
— Illegal Alien Crimes (@ImmigrantCrimes) June 17, 2026
Libs of TikTok posted his mugshot and adding “This is the kind of person Democrats are trying to protect.”
