Illegal immigrant on ICE detainer released by judge on own recognizance after being charged with 5 felonies California

An illegal immigrant who has been charged with five felonies and has an ICE detainer was released on his own recognizance by a California judge this week, drawing criticism from local prosecutors.

Guillermo Medina Reyes, who has a record that includes attempted murder and recent felony charges, was released by Judge Brian Caruth despite opposition from the district attorney’s office. Medina Reyes was ordered to return to court next week for a plea hearing.

The release comes after Medina Reyes was charged Wednesday with five felonies stemming from a violent crime spree in Berkeley last Sunday. The charges include the attempted carjacking of a vehicle with a 3-year-old child inside, an attempted carjacking of a big rig, grand theft of a cellphone, the attempted carjacking of an elderly woman at a gas station, and another attempted carjacking involving a Toyota Prius.

According to court documents, Judge Caruth also recommended that Medina Reyes be evaluated by a mental health provider for potential treatment.

The series of crimes followed a July decision by a San Francisco judge barring ICE agents from taking Medina Reyes into custody. Medina Reyes, who has lived in the US illegally since age 6, has been at the center of a public dispute between local activists and federal immigration authorities. Community members have protested the efforts by authorities to have him deported.

Medina Reyes had also previously been ordered to wear a GPS monitor pending a review of his immigration case, according to the Berkeley Scanner.

In addition to serving more than ten years in prison for attempted murder, Medina Reyes was arrested in May for robbery and vandalism, which led to felony vandalism charges. He currently works as a local tattoo artist in the Berkeley area.