ICE Deports Honduran Woman Convicted Of Trying To Kill Newborn
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Soili Xiomara Aparicio-Santos to Honduras on April 15, 2026, after her release from a New York state prison.
She was convicted in 2018 of second-degree attempted murder and related charges for a 2017 smothering attempt on her newborn in Suffolk County. Her original 16-year term was reduced to 10 years; she served eight before transfer to ICE custody, and federal detainers had been lodged in 2017 and 2018.
The episode traces back to her 2014 arrival from Honduras, when she entered the United States illegally and received a final order of removal on April 17, 2014. Three years later, on September 15, 2017, she gave birth at home in Centereach and was arrested after a family member witnessed her attempt to smother the one-day-old boy, leading to the 2018 conviction and sentence reduction.
Suffolk County authorities alerted ICE before her state prison release, a step that allowed federal agents to take custody and carry out the deportation. ICE's official account praised the removal as taking a violent offender out of the country, while social media reaction split between calls for stricter enforcement and reminders that such crimes occur across citizenship lines.
The deportation of Soili Xiomara Aparicio-Santos has reignited discussions around immigration enforcement and public safety, with ICE framing the action as a necessary step in removing violent offenders from the U.S. @ERONewYork emphasized that her presence in the country was a threat to public safety, a sentiment echoed by local officials like @CherylAGoss, who advocate for stricter immigration measures. However, critics argue that the focus on this case overlooks broader issues of child endangerment that transcend immigration status, as highlighted by @jayhott215, who noted that American citizens are also responsible for similar crimes. This dichotomy reflects the polarized views on immigration policy, with some asserting that the real issue lies in systemic societal problems rather than the nationality of offenders.
Data from the New York City Department of Correction reveals a significant gap in how ICE detainers are honored, with only 19 out of 595 requests being fulfilled in fiscal year 2025. This raises questions about the effectiveness and implications of current immigration policies, especially as New York has released thousands of criminal foreign nationals without honoring ICE requests, including individuals convicted of serious offenses. The ongoing debate showcases the tension between public safety concerns and immigrant rights, illustrating the complexities of immigration enforcement in a politically charged environment.
Show source details & analysis (1 source)
📊 Relevant Data
In fiscal year 2025, the New York City Department of Correction received 595 ICE detainers but transferred only 19 individuals to federal immigration authorities' custody. ([New York City Department of Correction](https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doc/downloads/pdf/Annual%20ICE%20Report%20FY25%20Final%20-%20.pdf)) ([New York City Department of Correction](https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doc/downloads/pdf/Annual%20ICE%20Report%20FY25%20Final%20-%20.pdf)) ([New York City Department of Correction](https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doc/downloads/pdf/Annual%20ICE%20Report%20FY25%20Final%20-%20.pdf)) ([New York City Department of Correction](https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doc/downloads/pdf/Annual%20ICE%20Report%20FY25%20Final%20-%20.pdf)) ([New York City Department of Correction](https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doc/downloads/pdf/Annual%20ICE%20Report%20FY25%20Final%20-%20.pdf))
New York City Department of Correction Summary of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detainers Fiscal Year 2025 — New York City Department of Correction
The $112 million federal jury verdict against Suffolk County was awarded to a class of 674 immigrants who were unlawfully detained beyond their release dates solely to honor ICE detainer requests. ([Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, University of Michigan Law School](https://clearinghouse.net/case/46072)) ([Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, University of Michigan Law School](https://clearinghouse.net/case/46072)) ([Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, University of Michigan Law School](https://clearinghouse.net/case/46072)) ([Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, University of Michigan Law School](https://clearinghouse.net/case/46072)) ([Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, University of Michigan Law School](https://clearinghouse.net/case/46072))
Orellana Castaneda v. US Department of Homeland Security — Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, University of Michigan Law School
Since January 20, 2025, New York authorities have released 6,947 criminal foreign nationals without honoring ICE detainers, including individuals convicted of 29 homicides, 2,509 assaults, and 207 sexual predatory offenses. ([Williamsport Sun-Gazette](https://www.sungazette.com/news/top-news/2025/12/ice-says-new-york-authorities-refusing-to-honor-14000-detainer-requests)) ([Williamsport Sun-Gazette](https://www.sungazette.com/news/top-news/2025/12/ice-says-new-york-authorities-refusing-to-honor-14000-detainer-requests)) ([Williamsport Sun-Gazette](https://www.sungazette.com/news/top-news/2025/12/ice-says-new-york-authorities-refusing-to-honor-14000-detainer-requests)) ([Williamsport Sun-Gazette](https://www.sungazette.com/news/top-news/2025/12/ice-says-new-york-authorities-refusing-to-honor-14000-detainer-requests)) ([Williamsport Sun-Gazette](https://www.sungazette.com/news/top-news/2025/12/ice-says-new-york-authorities-refusing-to-honor-14000-detainer-requests))
ICE says New York authorities refusing to honor 14,000 detainer requests — Williamsport Sun-Gazette
📌 Key Facts
- ICE deported Soili Xiomara Aparicio-Santos to Honduras on April 15, 2026, after her release from New York state prison.
- She was convicted in 2018 of second-degree attempted murder and related assault and child-endangerment charges for a 2017 smothering attempt on her newborn in Suffolk County, New York.
- Her original 16-year sentence was reduced to 10 years, and she served eight years before release and transfer to ICE custody.
- ICE lodged immigration detainers in 2017 and 2018, and Suffolk County authorities notified ICE prior to her prison release, enabling the deportation.
- Aparicio-Santos entered the U.S. illegally in 2014 and has had a final order of removal since that year.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time