HSI Investigation Leads to Guilty Plea by Two Criminal Aliens for Their Roles in Smuggling Accident that Killed 56 People

 

The Biden open border created a humanitarian crisis that allowed smugglers to profit off the deaths of illegal aliens

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led to a guilty plea by two criminal aliens who were involved in an alien smuggling conspiracy that resulted in an accident that killed more than 50 people in a tractor-trailer in Mexico in 2021.

On June 11, 2026, two criminal aliens from Guatemala – Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala and Alberto Marcario Chitic – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring and attempt to bring an illegal alien into the United States, placing life in jeopardy, causing serious bodily injury, and resulting in death.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, the incident took place on December 9, 2021. Canil De Zavala and Chitic and their co-conspirators arranged for a large group of aliens to be loaded into a tractor-trailer so that they could be transported across Mexico and illegally smuggled into the United States. The vehicle crashed north of the Guatemala-Mexico border, killing 56 people – including children – and injuring more than 100.

Canil De Zavala and Chitic, along with three other Guatemalan nationals, were extradited to the United States in 2025 to face charges. A sixth co-conspirator was arrested in Texas.

“These aliens tried to smuggle a large group of illegal aliens into our country, which eventually resulted in a crash that killed 56 people and injured more than 100,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “Thanks to the hard work of the men and women of ICE, these criminal aliens have pleaded guilty, and they will soon face justice. This is yet another example of how Biden’s open borders created a humanitarian crisis that allowed smugglers to profit off the deaths of illegal aliens.”

“This case highlights Homeland Security Investigations’ unwavering commitment to dismantling transnational criminal organizations that exploit vulnerable individuals for profit,” said ICE HSI Acting Executive Associate Director John Condon. “This horrific tragedy, which claimed dozens of lives, underscores the urgent need to combat human smuggling. The successful prosecution of these smugglers reflects the dedication of our agents and the coordinated efforts of our domestic and international partners to safeguard our borders and uphold the rule of law.”

“This tragic event shows that human smugglers do not care about the illegal aliens they come in contact with and transport despite the numerous risks, including extreme heat and dangerous travel conditions,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This defendant and her co-conspirators maximized their profits by packing more than 100 men, women, and children into a tractor trailer, which ultimately ended in an accident that claimed the lives of 56 people.”

“The defendants ran a calculated alien smuggling operation that moved people across borders like a supply chain — recruiting them in Guatemala, collecting their money, and packing them into cattle trucks and tractor-trailers for a dangerous journey through Mexico,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck for the Southern District of Texas. “This was an organized, profit-driven network that even handed scripts to children so they could lie to law enforcement if caught entering the United States. That operation ended with the loss of more than 50 lives on a Mexican roadside, and today’s convictions make clear that the Southern District of Texas will work to shut down these networks at every level.”

HSI’s Counter Proliferation Investigations Group in Washington D.C. conducted the investigation in partnership with HSI Guatemala and HSI Mexico. Valuable assistance was provided by HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C.; HSI Houston; HSI Laredo; U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s International Interdiction Task Force; U.S. Border Patrol; Liberty County Constable, Precinct 6; ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas; and the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions. Guatemalan prosecutors from the Office of Public Ministry and Mexican prosecutors from the Republic of Mexico’s Federal Prosecutions Office, with the support of law enforcement officials from both countries, were also instrumental in furthering the investigation.

Senior Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Lou Castillo and Jennifer Day for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from HRSP Latin American Specialist/Historian Joanna Crandall.

The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean, and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 458 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 408 U.S. convictions; more than 357 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.

DEC ANNOUCES ANNUAL TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF TWO SHELLFISHING AREAS

 

Two North Shore Areas to Close July 2; Areas Expected to Reopen July 9

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced the temporary closure of two shellfishing areas on the north shore of Long Island during the upcoming Fourth of July holiday period. These closures are imposed during busy holidays to protect public health from potentially contaminated shellfish associated with increased boating activity. Boaters are reminded to use pump-out facilities to help protect these waters.

Since 1995, DEC has designated these areas as temporarily uncertified for the harvest of shellfish during the Fourth of July and Labor Day holidays. During peak holiday periods, discharges from marine sanitation devices (toilets) may contaminate nearby shellfish beds with pathogenic bacteria or viruses, rendering the shellfish unsafe for human consumption.

 

DEC will designate the following areas, on the north shore of Long Island, as closed to the harvest of shellfish beginning at sunrise on July 2, and continuing through July 8: 

• 445 acres in a section of Oyster Bay Harbor, Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County; and 
• 261 acres in northern Port Jefferson Harbor, Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County.  

Shellfish harvesting is expected to resume in these areas on July 9. If poor weather causes fewer boaters to visit these areas, DEC may rescind the closure and reopen the areas for harvesting earlier. A recorded message advising the public about temporary closures of any shellfishing areas in New York State is accessible 24 hours a day by calling (631) 444-0480. The recorded message also advises harvesters when such areas have reopened. Information, including maps showing the affected areas, is available on DEC’s website.

 

Boaters should be aware that Oyster Bay Harbor and Port Jefferson Harbor are designated as no-discharge zones in their entirety. A no-discharge zone is a designated body of water where the discharge of treated or untreated boat sewage is prohibited. Boaters in these areas should utilize the following pump-out facilities: 

• Oyster Bay Harbor (West Harbor, Town of Oyster Bay): One pump-out boat is operated by the Town of Oyster Bay at no cost to boaters. Hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends. Contact the pump-out boat via marine radio VHF channel 9 or by cell phone at (516) 375-9864. In addition, the Town provides two pump-out stations on floats near the Oyster Bay Marine Center and Waterfront Park and a land-based pump-out in the Town marina at Theodore Roosevelt Park; and 
• Port Jefferson Harbor (Town of Brookhaven): The Town of Brookhaven operates a pump-out boat (no fee) in Port Jefferson Harbor. Hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Boaters may contact the Town's pump-out boat via marine radio VHF channel 73. In addition, the Town provides a pump-out station on its transient dock, east of the boat launch ramp, west of the charter fishing vessels.

A full list of No Discharge Zones in New York State, including other Long Island waters, can be found on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's website. View the Temporary Shellfish Closures maps on DEC's website.

New York State Announces Completion of 11 Units of Permanent Supportive Housing in Orange County

 

Fresh Start Apartments Created 11 Studio Apartments with Supportive Services for Formerly Homeless Women With Substance Use Disorders in the City of Newburgh

Supplements New York State's Ongoing Efforts to Address Homelessness and Expand Permanent Supportive Housing Opportunities Across the State

The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) announced the completion of Fresh Start Apartments, which created 11 units of permanent supportive housing in the City of Newburgh for women who have experienced homelessness and substance use disorder. Developed by the Regional Economic Community Action Program, Inc. (RECAP), the $5.9 million project received $4.9 million from OTDA’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program.

“The opening of Fresh Start Apartments in Newburgh provides women who have experienced homelessness with a permanent safe and affordable place to live, along with the essential support services that will enable them to stabilize their lives and thrive,” Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said. “We are grateful to RECAP for their longstanding commitment to providing critical support programs in Orange County and to Governor Hochul for prioritizing the development of permanent supportive housing across New York State and supporting our Homeless Housing and Assistance Program.”

The development of Fresh Start Apartments involved the new construction of a three-story, 11,000-square-foot building that created 11 studio apartments with onsite laundry facilities, as well as office and communal space. Fresh Start residents receive case management services from onsite staff and have access to extensive support services through RECAP and its many partner organizations. Services include off-site long- and short-term day treatment, individual counseling, recovery coaching, peer support, and crisis intervention. RECAP works closely with local organizations to offer greater choice in treatment options for each resident.

Additional capital funding for Fresh Start Apartments includes $900,000 HOME Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) funding from the Orange County Office of Community Development, as well as $50,000 in pre-development funding provided by the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and $14,250 by the City of Newburgh.

In addition, RECAP will receive $275,000 in annual funding for case management and rental subsidies for the project, provided by the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative through OASAS.

Established in 1965, RECAP is a not-for-profit that serves as the designated anti-poverty agency in Orange County, providing housing, Head Start early education, energy services, workforce development and training, residential and non-residential addiction support services, SNUG anti-gun violence intervention in the City of Newburgh, and other services to people with low incomes in Orange County and the surrounding communities.

Fresh Start Apartments is part of Governor Hochul's five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes.

Homeland Security Task Force Case Sends Sibling Co-Conspirators to Federal Prison for Roles in Transnational Criminal Organization

 

Alabama Man Sentenced to Life in Prison and His Illegal Alien Sister Sentenced to 33 Years in Prison for Roles in Large Scale Alien Smuggling Organization Linked to Notorious Mexican Cartel

As the result of a Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation, a brother and sister were both sentenced this week to life in prison and 33 years in prison, respectively, for their roles in a large-scale alien smuggling organization (ASO) directly linked to the Cartel De Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG).

“The individuals sentenced today for coordinating these crimes are a stark reminder of the deadly consequences of human trafficking across the southern border,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Under this Administration and this Department of Justice, such heinous criminal conduct and collaboration with deadly Mexican cartels will not be tolerated.”

“The reach of Mexican drug cartels does not stop at the border,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “This violent, cartel-backed Alien Smuggling Organization operated for years in this country, endangering the lives and livelihood of so many.  This case shows why our goal of eliminating Mexican drug cartels and their affiliates is worthy, necessary, and in the best interest of the American people. Working shoulder-to-shoulder with our HSTF partners, the Western District of Texas will continue to aggressively lead the way.”

“HSI Eagle Pass’s unwavering commitment to justice has resulted in the lengthy imprisonment of two ruthless human smugglers whose actions led to hostage taking and the tragic loss of life,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio. “This sentencing sends a powerful message: HSI will never tolerate those who exploit and endanger innocent lives for profit. The success of this HSTF investigation highlights the vital importance of collaboration. Our agents, working closely with dedicated law enforcement partners, dismantled Guzman’s criminal enterprise and ensured they face the full weight of justice. By combining our resources and expertise through the HSTF, we safeguard our communities and bring the most dangerous offenders to justice.”

According to court documents, Edgar Daniel Guzman, 32, of Albertville, Alabama, was a leader/organizer of a Transnational Criminal Organization that operated in Mexico and across the southern United States — including Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas — since at least 2021. Between 2021 and 2026, the ASO committed numerous acts of violence including murder, attempted murder, home invasion, and armed kidnapping. In his role, Guzman coordinated several failed alien smuggling attempts on behalf of the ASO and maintained CashApp accounts that revealed direct ties to co-conspirators and financial transactions connecting to corresponding smuggling events. Guzman pleaded guilty on July 21, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to commit hostage taking. He was sentenced on June 22 to life in prison. 

Guzman’s sister, Jesika Guzman-Garcia, 35, an illegal alien from Guanajuato, Mexico, was one of many co-conspirators in the ASO. She was tied to a smuggling event that resulted in the deaths of the smuggling load driver and two illegal aliens. As in her brother’s case, an investigation revealed that a CashApp account belonging to Guzman-Garcia was linked to several failed human smuggling events within the Western District of Texas. Using the app, Guzman-Garcia made 459 payments to individuals from July 25, 2018, to April 1, 2023, totaling $84,046. Guzman-Garcia pleaded guilty on Aug. 7, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death. She was sentenced on June 23 to 405 months in federal prison.

Flipped vehicle from failed smuggling attempt that resulted in the deaths of three people.

Chief U.S. District Court Judge Alia Moses for the Western District of Texas sentenced Guzman and Guzman-Garcia and presides over the case. More related sentencings are scheduled in the coming months. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner for the Western District of Texas prosecuted the case.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI; ICE HSI; DEA; ATF; U.S. Border Patrol; USMS; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Texas Department of Public Safety; as well as local police departments and sheriff’s offices, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.

Warren County Physician and Nurse Practitioner Barred from DEA Registration for 20 Years For Prescribing Opioids Unlawfully

 

Agree to Pay $500,000 to Resolve Fraudulent Conveyance Actions

Dr. Douglas Cline and nurse practitioner Laurie McKenna have agreed to pay $500,000 to resolve civil actions brought by the United States involving unlawful opioid prescribing practices and a fraudulent conveyance action against Dr. Cline, announced Drug Enforcement Administration New York Enforcement Division, Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam and United States Northern District of New York, First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III. This settlement is part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.

Dr. Cline formerly owned and operated Chronic Pain Management (CPM), a cash-pay medical practice in Queensbury, New York focused on prescribing controlled substances. Under the settlement, Dr. Cline and Ms. McKenna are barred for 20 years from applying for or holding a DEA controlled-substances registration.

As reflected in the settlement agreement, the defendants admitted and accepted responsibility for conduct involving a practice in which several patients received high-dose opioid medications, often in combination with other controlled substances. Access to prescriptions was tied to recurring payments, including in circumstances where patients were not regularly examined by a provider.

"While this settlement against Dr. Douglas Cline and Nurse Practitioner Laurie McKenna may resolve their scheme to unlawfully distribute controlled substance prescriptions for money, exploiting their patients to addiction and their harmful effects are not” stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “Medical professionals are entrusted with protecting patients’ lives, not placing profits above their health and safety. I commend the work of our DEA Diversion SPEAR team for pursuing those who endanger public health and profit from the ongoing opioid crisis."

“Douglas Cline operated a high-volume, cash-pay medical practice in which hundreds of patients received high-dose opioid prescriptions, often in combination with other controlled substances. Access to those medications was tied to recurring payments, including in circumstances where patients were not seen by him or another provider,” said First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “After federal scrutiny began, Dr. Cline transferred his lake house valued at over $1 million to his ex-wife to diminish assets that could pay an eventual judgment. This resolution holds him accountable for his prescribing conduct and his attempts to frustrate collection, and reinforces that such conduct will meet continued aggressive enforcement action.”

“The illegal prescribing practices detailed in this settlement were especially egregious in light of the ongoing opioid epidemic, and they were committed without regard for the proper care of Dr. Cline’s patients,” said Special Agent in Charge Naomi D. Gruchacz of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that health care providers who are involved in schemes that threaten patient safety are held accountable.”

In March 2024, the United States filed a civil action against the defendants’ involving prescriptions issued to a combat wounded military veteran and his spouse, including escalating doses of fentanyl, oxycodone, and benzodiazepines despite warning signs of misuse and dependency. The complaint further described continued prescribing to these individuals over extended periods, including while they resided in the southeastern United States and were not regularly examined in person, while continuing to pay CPM appointment fees for continued access to prescriptions.  

After learning of the government’s investigation and his potential liability, Dr. Cline transferred substantial assets, including a residence in Bolton Landing, New York, to his then-spouse. The United States later filed a separate civil action alleging that the transfer constituted a fraudulent conveyance intended to hinder federal recovery in the first action.

Dr. Cline surrendered his DEA Certificate of Registration on August 29, 2025. Ms. McKenna’s registration expired on January 31, 2026.

Under the settlement, both defendants are barred for 20 years from applying for, renewing, or reinstating DEA controlled-substances registration.

“Douglas Cline’s reckless prescribing practices caused needless harm to TRICARE beneficiaries and placed profit ahead of proper medical care,” said Christopher M. Silvestro, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Northeast Field Office. “As the investigative arm of the Department of War’s Office of Inspector General, we are committed to protecting the health and well-being of our service members and their families.”

The case was investigated by the DEA Albany District Office SPEAR Group, the DCIS Syracuse Resident Agency, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Defense Health Agency, the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, the New York State Police, and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.

Eight North Carolina Return Preparers Plead Guilty in Almost $25M Pandemic-Relief Fraud Scheme

 

The owner of a North Carolina tax return preparation business pleaded guilty to conspiring to prepare false returns claiming fraudulent refunds based on COVID-19 tax credits. Seven other return preparers have already pleaded guilty for their roles in the same scheme.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Nejlai Mitchell owned and operated a tax return preparation business out of Lumberton, North Carolina, and Hope Mills, North Carolina. From approximately April 2022 through May 2023, Mitchell and seven employees filed false tax returns seeking fraudulent refunds based on the paid sick and family leave credit, a credit passed by Congress to aid struggling businesses during the COVID-19 global pandemic. As a result of the conspiracy, the IRS paid out approximately $13,890,697 in fraudulent tax refund claims.

“Instead of honoring their legal and ethical duties as tax preparers, this group allegedly engineered a calculated scheme to enrich themselves by submitting false returns,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Stealing taxpayer funded relief in a national emergency is both reprehensible and deeply harmful to the public, and we will not hesitate to hold accountable those who exploit a crisis for personal gain. The Fraud Division remains unwavering in its commitment to protecting the integrity of federal relief programs and pursuing tax fraud wherever it occurs.”

Mitchell admitted to the conspiracy shortly after Whitnee Leach pleaded guilty, on May 19, 2026, to participating in the same conspiracy. Both Mitchell and Leach also pleaded guilty to assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.

Six other co-conspirators pleaded guilty to preparing federal tax returns for clients that included materially false items. Tiffany Moody and Shaneen Ray pleaded guilty on December 9, 2025; Eyoubo McBurney and Katrena Stanback pleaded guilty on September 24, 2025; and Jeannie Negron and Sylvia Swindell pleaded guilty on August 20, 2025.

Mitchell is scheduled to be sentenced in September. Leach is scheduled to be sentenced in August. Mitchell and Leach face a maximum penalty of five years for conspiracy and three years for preparing and filing false tax returns.  The remaining six defendants each face a maximum penalty of three years in prison for preparing and filing false tax returns for clients. Their sentencing hearings are set for July 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney W. Ellis Boyle of the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Caroline Pearson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Ontjes of the Eastern District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

Mayor Mamdani and Whitney Museum Partner to Launch Free Art Activity Guide Citywide During the World Cup

 

New Yorkers who complete a free artist-designed activity guide can redeem it for free admission to the Whitney

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the New York New Jersey Host Committee and the Whitney Museum of American Art today announced a citywide partnership to bring free, artist-designed poster activity guides to communities across all five boroughs during the FIFA World Cup 2026™.  

 

New Yorkers and visitors who complete the guide — or show a photo of it — can receive free admission to the Whitney through July 31, 2026, while supplies last. 

The guide was created by Rich Tu, designer of the official FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York New Jersey Host City Poster, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office and the New York New Jersey Host Committee. Developed as a free creative resource, the guide will be distributed at watch parties, Open Streets events and community partner sites citywide and will be available online for download. 

Available in English and Spanish, the activity invites participants of all ages to explore themes of community, culture and team spirit through art and play.  

“The World Cup is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring New Yorkers together,” said Mayor Mamdani. “We want every New Yorker to be part of this moment — not just in the stadium, but in their neighborhoods, their schools, and the public spaces that make New York the greatest city on earth. Our parks, plazas and streets are where New York comes alive, where we celebrate and build community across every borough. This partnership with the Whitney helps ensure that the excitement of the World Cup belongs to all of us, putting art and access at the heart of this historic summer.” 

“As a museum deeply rooted in New York City we are committed to welcoming everyone, from our neighbors to visitors arriving from around the world,” said Scott Rothkopf, the Alice Pratt Brown Director of the Whitney Museum. “We hope this activity guide inspires people to visit the Whitney, especially on July 12, when admission is free to all as part of West Side Fest, a weekend-long celebration of culture and community across Manhattan's west side.” 

“The World Cup is creating opportunities for people to experience New York in new ways, and this partnership is a great example of that,” said Alex Lasry, CEO of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York New Jersey Host Committee. “By connecting the excitement of the tournament with art and culture in communities across all five boroughs, we’re helping ensure that everyone can be part of this historic moment. We’re proud to work alongside Mayor Mamdani, the Whitney Museum and our very own NYNJ poster artist Rich Tu to bring this unique experience to New Yorkers and visitors throughout the summer.” 

“When I was a kid, I always loved activities that let my creativity run wild,” said artist Rich Tu. “It’s an honor to share my love of soccer and design with the city that I love.” 

On July 12, Tu will lead a special program at the Whitney in collaboration with Poster House as part of Free Second Sunday and West Side Fest, a free, weekend-long cultural celebration presented by more than 20 arts organizations across Manhattan's west side. 

The partnership builds on the Whitney's ongoing commitment to expanding access to arts and culture, including Free Friday Nights, Free Second Sundays, free admission for visitors 25 and under and discounted admission for visitors wearing team colors during the World Cup.

ICE Lodges Detainer Asking Governor Abigail Spanberger to Not Release Illegal Alien Charged with Abduction and Indecent Exposure in Fairfax County, Virginia

 

This illegal alien was arrested in 2024 on drug trafficking charges, but Fairfax County sanctuary politicians refused to honor ICE’s detainer and released him

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer asking Governor Abigail Spanberger and Fairfax County, Virginia sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing from jail a criminal illegal alien charged with abduction of person with intent to defile and indecent exposure.

On June 21, police in Annandale, Virginia responded to a call that a man had exposed his genitals to a woman while she was walking on a trail in a park. Another call then came in from the same park alleging that a man attempted to abduct a woman by stepping in front of her bicycle, forcing her to dismount, and then tried to drag her into the woods before she pushed him away and fled. The suspect initially chased after her before fleeing the scene.

Two days later, on June 23, Fairfax County Police reported that the suspect was in custody. Moises Domingo Rico Rosales, a criminal illegal alien from Nicaragua, now faces charges of abduction of person with intent to defile and indecent exposure.

Moises Domingo Rico Rosales

Rico Rosales had previously been arrested in 2024 on felony drug trafficking charges. ICE lodged a detainer, but Fairfax County sanctuary politicians refused to honor it and released him back into the community.

“This criminal illegal alien exposed himself to one woman in a park and then attempted to abduct another woman the same day,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “He was previously arrested for drug trafficking in 2024, but Fairfax County sanctuary politicians refused to cooperate with ICE law enforcement and released him from jail. This predator was RELEASED by the Biden Administration into our country in 2022. DHS is calling on Governor Abigail Spanberger and her fellow sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this criminal and instead turn him over to ICE custody. Open border and sanctuary policies have real consequences, and they are the creation of more innocent victims.”

Rico Rosales illegally entered the country in Arizona in 2022 and was arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol. The Biden Administration then RELEASED him into the country.

During her first days in office, Governor Spanberger signed executive orders banning state cooperation with ICE as well as terminating 287(g) state and local agreements.

Under Governor Spanberger, Virginia has become a hotbed of illegal alien crime. Some of the recent illegal alien crimes in the sanctuary state include: 

• In June, ICE lodged a detainer for Jose Nahun Aleman Hernandez, an illegal alien from Mexico, who was charged with molesting a 5-year-old girl in Woodbridge, Virginia. 
• In June, ICE lodged a detainer for Cristian Wilfredo Alvarenga Aguilar, an illegal alien charged with carjacking, abduction, assault, and robbery in Herndon, Virginia. 
• In May, Aroldo Santos-Velasques, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was sentenced in Loudoun County to 25 years in prison for sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl.  
• In May, ICE lodged a detainer for Cristian Romero Saenz-Argueta, an illegal alien from El Salvador, who was arrested in Prince William County, Virginia and charged with raping a girl under the age of 15.
• In May, ICE lodged a detainer for Jorge Enrique Garcia-Rodriguez, an illegal alien from Mexico, who was arrested in Franklin County, Virginia and charged with forcible intercourse with a victim under the age of 13 and SIX counts of possession of child pornography.  
• In May, ICE arrested Eduardo Perez-Legra, an illegal alien from Cuba with prior felony convictions for drug trafficking and cocaine possession, in Newport News, Virginia. 
• In May, ICE arrested Walvin Victor Hugo Garcia, an illegal alien from Guatemala, after he was released by sanctuary politicians in Fairfax County despite facing charges of raping a child under the age of 13.  
• In May, ICE arrested Josue Saul Garcia-Lopez, an illegal alien from El Salvador and MS-13 gang member, in Harrisonburg, Virginia. 
• In April, Roni Mendez-Escobar, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was arrested by ICE after previously being released by Fairfax County, despite being charged with possession of child porn with intent to distribute.  
• In April, ICE lodged a detainer asking sanctuary politicians in Arlington County to not release Luzvin Orvando Garcia Moran, an illegal alien from Guatemala, after he was arrested for attempted rape. 
• In April, Israel Christopher Flores-Ortiz, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador, was convicted for NINE counts of assault and battery after he groped multiple underage girls at a high school in Fairfax County. 
• In April, the Fairfax County District Attorney’s Office offered an insane plea deal of just 5 years to two illegal aliens who murdered a man at a park and walking trail in Oakton, Virginia in July of 2024. 
• In April, Misael Lopez Gomez, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was arrested and charged with murder and felony child abuse after bludgeoning his own 3-month-old daughter to death in Fairfax County. 
• In March, Anibal Armando Chavarria Muy, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was arrested and charged with second degree murder after fatally stabbing a man inside his home in Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia. 
• In February, Abdul Jalloh, an illegal alien from Sierra Leone with more than 30 prior arrests, was charged with murder after fatally stabbing 41-year-old Stephanie Minter at a bus stop in Hybla Valley, Virginia.