An illegal immigrant allegedly threatened a U.S. lawyer in New York with a knife, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security. The incident involved Saul Morales Garcia, who reportedly chased John Salcone—appointed by President Trump—near the Hilton Hotel in Albany.
This individual, originally from El Salvador, had been deported before but managed to illegally re-enter the U.S., garnering a lengthy criminal record. Tricia McLaughlin, Deputy Director of Homeland Security, noted that he has faced deportation multiple times and has committed various crimes throughout the country.
Morales Garcia, aged 40, was previously convicted in 2009 for a theft-related misdemeanor in Virginia, leading to a year-long prison sentence. Shortly after, in 2010, he was apprehended by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) and deported.
Despite this, he returned to the U.S. multiple times between 2010 and 2021, according to reports. His criminal history continued in 2021 when he was arrested in Georgia on DUI charges. In 2023, police encountered him again for public drunkenness and possessing an open container. He faced additional charges in 2024 in Pennsylvania for retail theft.
His recent troubles peaked this week when he allegedly pursued Salcone with a knife outside the hotel. An Albany County prosecutor noted the lawyer was unharmed, and Morales Garcia was soon taken into custody by local sheriff’s deputies.
Currently, he is being held without bail after being charged with attempted second-degree murder. There are also ongoing investigations by Homeland Security into his illegal re-entry, which could expedite another deportation.
ICE is also working to take him into federal custody, following statements from McLaughlin emphasizing the urgency of his case. She asserted that he should never have been allowed back into the U.S., reiterating the administration’s commitment to tackling crime linked to undocumented immigrants.
Moreover, it was noted that Morales Garcia has prior felony convictions connected to incidents in El Salvador, according to various sources.
Salcone, who was appointed to the Upstate New York district in March, is reported to come from a background that emphasizes hard work and determination, having grown up in Croton-on-Hudson and graduated from Pace University.
