DHS says Baltimore teen stabbing suspect was released despite ICE detainer

The Department of Homeland Security revealed that the man charged with stabbing a 15-year-old girl in Baltimore is an illegal immigrant who was released from custody in New York despite an ICE detainer, FOX45 Baltimore reported.

The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Abubakarr Barrie, faces multiple charges including first- and second-degree attempted murder, kidnapping, and assault related to the October 22 stabbing in Baltimore City, according to WBFF.

DHS stated that Barrie was arrested in New York City in July 2026 on a charge of third-degree possession of a forged instrument. Although ICE lodged a detainer requesting he remain in custody, New York City authorities did not honor it, leading to his release.

Barrie, originally from Sierra Leone, illegally entered the U.S. through Arizona in December 2023 and was initially arrested by U.S. Border Patrol before being released into the country, DHS said.

About a month after his release in New York, Barrie was charged with prostitution in Baltimore County in August 2026, but that case was listed as STET, meaning it was suspended or dismissed.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin criticized sanctuary policies and urged Baltimore authorities to learn from New York’s handling of the case, highlighting the consequences of not honoring ICE detainers.