Mohamadou Lamine Mbacke, 31, "was in ICE custody awaiting removal via a commercial airline flight through JFK Tuesday before absconding" at Terminal 4's Gate B23, said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Khaalid Walls.
The agents apparently had removed Mbacke's handcuffs to bring him through screening when he bolted, authorities said.
He hopped into a cab around 9 p.m. and was gone, Walls said surveillance video show.
Mbacke, who'd been living in Detroit and had several previous weapons convictions, "entered the country lawfully in 2005 before violating the terms of his status," he said. "He was ordered deported in September 2015 by an immigration judge."
Mbacke, who is 6-foot-3 and about 190 pounds, was last seen wearing a black or purple shirt, jeans and sneakers.
"Members of the public should not to attempt to apprehend him and instead immediately contact authorities," Walls said.
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