In New York City, federal immigration authorities have detained Samuel Reveron Ascanio, a 25-year-old Venezuelan national, following his release by local authorities after a manhole incident. Reveron Ascanio, who entered the U.S. illegally in August 2022, was arrested on September 24 for criminal trespassing after emerging from a manhole near a hotel in Midtown, where many foreign dignitaries were staying for the UN General Assembly.
Despite having a federal arrest warrant for criminal mischief, Reveron Ascanio was released by Judge Sheridan Jack-Browne on a non-bail-eligible trespass charge. This decision has sparked tension between federal immigration enforcement and New York City’s sanctuary policies, which limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo criticized the release, stating it returned an alleged public-safety threat to the streets.
The incident is part of a broader pattern of individuals, often referred to as “mole people,” scavenging in sewer systems for valuables. Reveron Ascanio and another man, Kevin Rodriguez, a legal U.S. resident, were reportedly searching for gold, jewelry, and scrap. Rodriguez was also charged with criminal trespassing, and authorities continue to search for a third individual involved in the incident…