By: Don Driggers

A group of alleged migrant robbers — including three wanted by federal immigration authorities — were arrested after a late-night armed stickup in Midtown Manhattan this week, only to be swiftly released by a judge, police sources told the New York Post. The outcome has reignited outrage over New York’s soft-on-crime, sanctuary-style justice system — one many city voters continue to defend, at least until it hits close to home.

The robbery unfolded around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday on West 47th Street between Ninth and Tenth avenues in Hell’s Kitchen, a neighborhood packed with residents, tourists, and late-night foot traffic. According to police, a 57-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman were confronted by five men, three of them armed, who demanded their belongings.

One suspect allegedly pointed a gun directly at the male victim while another reached into his pocket and stole his cellphone, police said. The crew also attempted to rob the woman, but fled moments later before taking any of her property, according to law enforcement sources cited by the New York Post.

NYPD officers responding to the scene managed to arrest four of the five suspects a short distance away. Police recovered two imitation firearms and one real gun nearby, authorities said.

The suspects were identified as Wilson Eduardo, 18; Emerson Valenzuela, 20; Christopher Serrano, 18; and Edwin Ramos, 18, police said. All four were charged with robbery, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of stolen property, and menacing.

Despite the violent nature of the alleged crime — and despite the presence of firearms — all four suspects pleaded not guilty and were released on non-monetary conditions, according to online court records reviewed by the New York Post.

Adding fuel to the fire, three of the four suspects were wanted on ICE detainers, police sources said. It was not immediately clear which individuals were flagged by federal immigration authorities, but under New York’s sanctuary-style policies, ICE was not notified prior to their release.

That detail has drawn renewed criticism of city and state leaders who continue to champion limits on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement — a stance still broadly supported by many New Yorkers, at least in theory. Critics say those same voters are often the first to express shock when alleged repeat offenders are released back onto the streets within hours.

Police are now investigating whether the crew may be connected to other robberies in the area, sources told the Post.

The case was first publicized by the account ViralNewsNYC on X, which frequently tracks arrests involving migrants and repeat offenders across the five boroughs. The post quickly spread online, prompting angry reactions from residents who questioned why armed robbery suspects — some allegedly flagged by ICE — were free almost immediately.

Law enforcement sources privately expressed frustration, noting that officers risked their safety to apprehend the suspects, only to see them back on the street days later. “This is the system working exactly as designed,” one source said sarcastically.

The incident comes as city leaders continue to defend New York’s sanctuary policies and bail reforms, insisting they make communities safer and fairer — even as high-profile cases like this one pile up.

For the victims on West 47th Street, the policy debate is no longer abstract. And for New Yorkers who keep voting for leaders promising fewer consequences and less cooperation with federal authorities, the release of an armed robbery crew with ICE detainers may be the latest reminder that ideology doesn’t always stop a gun pointed at your face — as the New York Post reported.