Ice issues detainer for illegal immigrant accused of strangling new york cab driver to death

ICE issues detainer for illegal immigrant accused of strangling New York cab driver to death

Posted by
1 min read
December 22, 2025

BREWSTER, N.Y. – Federal immigration officials have lodged a detainer against a Guatemalan national accused of killing a taxi driver in Putnam County earlier this month, after authorities said the suspect entered the U.S. illegally more than a decade ago and was previously ordered removed.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) filed the detainer for Santos Paulino Vasquez-Ramirez, who has been charged with homicide and robbery in the death of Aurelio Zhunio-Orbez, a local taxicab driver. Investigators said Vasquez-Ramirez allegedly strangled Zhunio-Orbez to death in Brewster on December 1 following a dispute over a fare.

Ice issues detainer for illegal immigrant accused of strangling new york cab driver to death
Photo: ice issues detainer for illegal immigrant accused of strangling new york cab driver to death

The victim’s body was discovered nearly a week later, on December 7, floating in the Croton Falls Reservoir.

According to federal officials, Vasquez-Ramirez entered the U.S. unlawfully in October 2013 and was released into the country by the Obama administration. An immigration judge issued a final order of removal in 2016, but the order was never executed. ICE said it has now placed a detainer with local authorities to ensure the suspect remains in custody and can be taken into federal immigration proceedings following his criminal case.

Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that the case underscores the consequences of what she described as past “open border policies.” “Santos Vasquez Ramirez should’ve never been in our country in the first place and provided the opportunity to gruesomely take the life of Aurelio Zhunio-Orbez,” she said. “ICE lodged an arrest detainer with local authorities to ensure this criminal illegal alien is never allowed back into American neighborhoods.”

The Department of Homeland Security urged any victims of crimes committed by noncitizens to contact the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office for assistance.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Don't Miss