Illegal alien accused of assaulting NYPD officer released, now on the loose

NEW YORK - ICE repeatedly lodged immigration detainers against an illegal alien from Guinea following multiple New York City arrests, including one on charges related to the alleged aggravated assault of a police officer with a deadly weapon.

ICE lodged a detainer with Queens Central Booking Oct. 7 for Alpha Bah after his arrest on charges including aggravated assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, and intent to obtain transportation without paying. According to available information, the New York City Police Department released Bah without notifying ICE or honoring the detainer request.

ICE previously lodged a detainer request with Manhattan Central Booking after Bah was arrested in June 2026 on a charge of intent to obtain transportation without paying. He was also released following that arrest.

Bah entered the United States unlawfully in November 2023 and was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona. He was later arrested in January 2025 on a criminal trespassing charge and released before ICE could lodge a detainer.

"ICE gave New York City multiple opportunities to turn this illegal alien over to federal custody - and multiple times, our requests went unanswered," said acting ICE Director David J. Venturella. "Now, after his arrest on charges of assaulting a police officer with a deadly weapon, he's back on the streets instead of in ICE custody. When local jurisdictions refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, they force our officers to make arrests in communities rather than safe, controlled settings, creating unnecessary risks for everyone involved. This is exactly the kind of situation that cooperation between law enforcement agencies can help avoid."

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin criticized New York City's refusal to honor the ICE detainer following Bah's most recent arrest.

"This illegal alien from Guinea was arrested for assaulting a police officer with a deadly weapon. Despite these violent charges, New York City sanctuary politicians refused to honor ICE's detainer and released him back onto the streets, and he remains at large," said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. "This is the vision of sanctuary politicians in a nutshell: the open-border policies of the Biden administration let this criminal into our country, and then sanctuary politicians in New York released him after arresting him without notifying ICE. DHS is calling on Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani to knock it off with these evil sanctuary policies before another American gets hurt, or worse."

Bah illegally entered the United States through Arizona in November 2023 and was arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol. He was then released into the country by the Biden administration.

ICE detainers are requests that law enforcement agencies notify ICE before releasing an individual who may be subject to removal and maintain custody for a limited period to allow ICE to assume custody, consistent with applicable law and policy.

ICE continues to seek Bah. If you know where he is or have other important information, please call the ICE Tip Line at (866) DHS-2-ICE (3472423) or submit a tip online.