NEW YORK CITY — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers from the New York City field office arrested Edison Guillermo Pinto-Padron, a 26-year-old Venezuelan national and known member of a South American theft group, on May 14, according to a federal statement.
ICE officials said Pinto-Padron is a criminal alien with prior convictions, including grand larceny and contributing to the delinquency of a child, and was previously released by Virginia officials who ignored an immigration detainer request.
Pinto was first encountered by U.S. Border Patrol near El Paso, Texas, on July 26, 2023, after he entered the U.S. illegally. He was released with a notice to appear in court.
Later, on Sept. 1, 2024, the Leesburg Police Department in Virginia arrested Pinto for grand larceny, possession of burglarious tools, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The next day, ICE lodged a detainer with the Loudoun County Jail, requesting notification prior to his release.
However, local authorities released Pinto without notifying ICE, according to officials.
On Dec. 12, 2024, the Loudoun County Circuit Court convicted Pinto of grand larceny. He received a two-year suspended sentence and two years of probation.
After identifying Pinto as a member of a transnational criminal organization, ICE located and arrested him on May 14, 2025, in Manhattan, New York. He is now being held without bond in ICE custody, awaiting removal proceedings.
ICE NYC Acting Field Office Director Bryan Flanagan emphasized the risks of sanctuary policies, stating, “When officials refuse to honor detainers based on personal beliefs rather than public safety considerations, they are making conscious decisions to put their communities at risk.”
