An accused child rapist illegally in the U.S. was recently arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Boston, the agency announced on Thursday.
ICE Boston reported the arrest of Stivenson Omar Perez-Ajtzalan, 19, on Jan. 30 in Lawrence, Massachusetts, for the aggravated rape of a child. The victim, allegedly more than 10 years younger than Perez, is a Guatemalan national.
He was arraigned on the felony charges in Lawrence District Court on Dec. 20, 2024.
Perez was supposedly released back into the community by the court without informing ICE of his release, as disclosed by Fox News’ Bill Melugin. ICE could not file a detainer because the court released him swiftly.
“Massachusetts stands out as the only state in my coverage where aliens accused of child rape, particularly aggravated child rape, are frequently released without notifying ICE,” stated Melugin.
Perez was given a notice to appear before a Justice Department immigration judge after his arrest and he was placed into removal proceedings, according to ICE Boston. He remains in ICE custody.
Massachusetts has made headlines since President Donald Trump was elected for acting in defiance of his administration’s immigration crackdown.
Gov. Maura Healey said in November that her state police will “absolutely not” be cooperating with mass deportation efforts and warned that she will use “every tool in the toolbox” to “protect” residents of her state.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey visiting the Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex, which was being used to house more than 300 migrants. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Healey changed her tune in January, noting that her state is not a sanctuary state, despite a 2017 ruling by the state Supreme Judicial Court that severely limits law enforcement cooperation with ICE.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
