Arrested at Middlesex County Facility
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested 23-year-old Guatemalan citizen Rocael Ordonez-Cruz on July 21 at the Middlesex County House of Correction in Billerica, Massachusetts. Federal authorities took custody of Ordonez-Cruz immediately following his release from state custody, according to statements released by the agency.
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers in Boston processed the arrest after local authorities previously detained the young migrant. According to federal immigration officials, Ordonez-Cruz originally entered the United States at an unknown location and time without being inspected, admitted, or paroled by an authorized U.S. immigration official.
Arlington Police Charges
The Arlington Police Department in Massachusetts originally arrested Ordonez-Cruz on June 25, according to ICE records. Local law enforcement authorities brought multiple severe criminal counts against him, including rape and assault to rape.
In addition to the felony sexual assault allegations, Ordonez-Cruz was charged with indecent assault and battery on a person aged 14 or older, as well as indecent exposure. He was held within the state correctional system at the Middlesex County House of Correction until his release prompted the federal immigration intervention.
Removal Proceedings Initiated
Following his release from local correctional authorities, ICE Boston field officers served Ordonez-Cruz with a notice to appear before a Justice Department immigration judge. This formal notice initiates standard removal proceedings to determine his legal status and potential deportation from the country.
Statements From Federal Authorities
“Rocael Ordonez-Cruz has not only displayed a blatant disregard for our laws by illegally entering this United States and later allegedly sexually assaulting our residents, he has also proven to be a threat to our neighborhoods,” acting ERO Boston Field Office Director David Wesling said in a statement.
“The arrest of this alleged sex offender from the streets of Massachusetts shows our officers’ dedication to the safety and security of our New England communities. We will not stop finding and arresting dangerous criminal alien offenders,” Wesling added.
Pending Custody Status
Ordonez-Cruz will remain in federal immigration custody pending the final outcome of his removal proceedings before the Justice Department immigration judge. Fox News Digital reached out to ICE for additional clarification regarding the specific operational circumstances of the July 21 arrest but did not immediately receive a response.
