BOSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in Boston have arrested a Guatemalan national who was charged with the rape of a child. The arrest was made after the individual, whose identity has not been disclosed, was released from local custody without notification to ICE.
According to ICE, the suspect entered the United States illegally in 2022 near El Paso, Texas. He was subsequently encountered by Border Patrol and released on his own recognizance with a notice to appear in immigration court.
The individual was later arrested by local law enforcement in Massachusetts on charges including rape of a child under 16 and indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. However, after his arraignment, he was released from custody by the local authorities without ICE being notified, allowing him to remain free until ICE officers apprehended him.
Todd Lyons, field office director for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston, criticized the lack of cooperation from local jurisdictions, stating, “This is another example of local jurisdictions not coordinating with ICE, leading to the release of individuals with serious charges back into society.”
ICE has placed a detainer on the individual, which is a request for local law enforcement to hold him until ICE can take custody to initiate removal proceedings. The Guatemalan national now faces both criminal charges in the U.S. and potential deportation.
This case has reignited debates over sanctuary policies, where local jurisdictions limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, particularly in cases involving criminal charges.