BOSTON, MASS – On February 21, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) unit in Boston apprehended a 34-year-old Guatemalan man in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The individual, previously convicted of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, was caught as part of ICE’s latest crackdown on unlawfully present noncitizen sex offenders.
Despite an immigration detainer filed by ERO Boston, the Gloucester District Court had released the man, who unlawfully entered the U.S. in April 2011 without inspection. His recent capture falls within a national enforcement effort that saw 275 such offenders arrested between February 5 and February 16.
Don’t trust the mainstream media? Click here to get Dave Bondy’s newsletter send to your inbox for stories like this and more.
ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons emphasized the risk the individual posed to Massachusetts residents, criticizing the decision to release him back into the community. “Unlawfully present, convicted sex offenders should not be given the opportunity to reoffend,” Lyons stated, affirming ERO Boston’s commitment to community safety.
The Guatemalan national’s arrest in December 2023 followed his unlawful entry into the U.S. and subsequent detention. Convicted in January for his crimes, he was mandated to register as a sex offender. Now in ICE custody, he awaits removal proceedings before a federal immigration judge.
This arrest is part of ICE’s broader initiative to apprehend unlawfully present noncitizen sex offenders, contributing to the 170,590 administrative arrests made by ERO in fiscal year 2023. This figure marks a 19.5% increase from the previous year, with a significant number of those arrested having a criminal history.
ERO, a key operational directorate within ICE, focuses on domestic immigration enforcement, including the arrest and removal of individuals undermining U.S. community safety and immigration laws. With over 7,700 personnel, ERO operates across the U.S. and internationally, emphasizing the repatriation of noncitizens with final removal orders.
For more information or to report suspicious activities, the public can call 866-347-2423 or use the online tip form. Further details about ICE’s mission can be found on X (formerly Twitter) at @EROBoston.
