Salvadoran with Prior Greenwich Assault Record Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-entry
Catch, release, repeat. The story of 29-year-old Tomas Alonso Valencia-Ruiz is a tale about the reality of Connecticut's border and sanctuary policies and their impact on Greenwich.
From the Rio Grande to CT
His history with federal authorities began in November 2014 when U.S. Border Patrol apprehended the Salvadoran crossing illegally near Rio Grande City, Texas. Released with a summons to appear before an immigration judge, he ignored the order and headed north to Connecticut.
Arrested in Greenwich for Assault
On October 12, 2016, Greenwich Police arrested Valencia-Ruiz on a third-degree assault charge. While the arrest put him back on federal radar, he evaded court proceedings. In January 2017, the U.S. Immigration Court in New York ordered him removed in absentia after he failed to appear.
Arrested With a Weapon in Darien
Remaining in Fairfield County, Valencia-Ruiz continued to cross paths with local law enforcement. On November 22, 2018, Darien Police arrested him for illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle.
Convicted and Deported to El Salvador
On May 31, 2019, Stamford Superior Court convicted and sentenced Valencia-Ruiz for both the Greenwich assault and Darien weapons charges. Upon completing his state sentence, he was transferred to ICE custody and officially deported to El Salvador on June 26, 2019.
Re-Entry and Arrest on Serious Charges in Stamford
Undeterred by federal removal, Valencia-Ruiz illegally re-entered the U.S. and returned straight to Fairfield County. His run ended on August 15, 2025, when Stamford Police arrested him on serious charges, including risk of injury to a child, carrying a dangerous weapon, second-degree threatening, criminal mischief, and disorderly conduct.
Pleaded Guilty in Bridgeport and Awaiting Sentencing
Recognizing the previously deported convict, federal agents took Valencia-Ruiz into custody on September 21, 2026. Appearing in Bridgeport federal court, Valencia-Ruiz waived his right to an indictment and pleaded guilty to unlawful reentry of a removed alien, as announced by U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan. He remains in federal detention awaiting sentencing.
Between the Lines: Connecticut’s sanctuary policies have created an environment where illegal immigrants can remain undetected until a serious crime forces law enforcement’s hand—and, even after federal deportation, they can find their way back into the community to cause further harm.