Carlos Corte-Corte, a 40-year-old Ecuadorian illegal immigrant, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after allegedly kidnapping a 4-year-old girl from a laundromat in Patchogue, New York. The incident occurred on March 28, and ICE took him into custody on March 31, placing him into removal proceedings.
The Kidnapping Incident
According to the Suffolk County Police Department, the kidnapping occurred at Laundry Kingdom, located at 138 East Main St. in Patchogue. While a woman was at the laundromat with her two children, Corte-Corte, who was unknown to her, allegedly led the woman’s 4-year-old daughter out the back exit at approximately 12:08 p.m.
The mother immediately reported her daughter missing, and officers responded to the scene, reviewing surveillance footage and canvassing the area. The child was later found safe in the children’s play area at the Patchogue-Medford Library, located nearby at 54-60 East Main St. The police then arrested Corte-Corte near the laundromat.
Charges and Legal Background
Corte-Corte was charged with second-degree kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child. He had previously been deported three times, in 2020, for illegal entry into the United States. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Corte-Corte illegally re-entered the U.S. for a fourth time before attempting to kidnap the child.
Acting Assistant Secretary of DHS Lauren Bis criticized the release of Corte-Corte by local officials, stating, “This three-time deported criminal illegal alien kidnapped an innocent four-year-old girl. New York sanctuary politicians chose to release this kidnapper from jail to prey on more innocent children rather than cooperate with ICE law enforcement.”
Release on Supervised Release
Despite the serious charges, a Suffolk County district judge released Corte-Corte the day after his arrest on supervised release with a GPS monitor. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney disagreed with the judge’s decision, highlighting the concerning facts of the case.
Corte-Corte’s public defender claimed in court that the incident was a mistake, arguing that Corte-Corte believed the girl lived alone without parents. He had allegedly told a library employee that the child was alone, but a language barrier made communication difficult.
DHS’s Statement
DHS expressed concern over the decision to release Corte-Corte, emphasizing that this type of action puts public safety at risk. “Sanctuary politicians must stop putting politics above public safety,” Bis stated.
