Guatemalan Man Arrested by ICE After Child Assault Charges.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehended Sostenes Perez-Lopez, 59, a Guatemalan national, after he was charged with two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child.
The arrest took place in Brighton, Massachusetts, on February 18, 2024. Perez-Lopez, who illegally entered the U.S. at an unknown location and time, faces serious accusations that have prompted significant action by ICE.
Details of the Criminal Charges
Perez-Lopez is accused of committing heinous crimes against a child under the age of 14 in Massachusetts. The charges of indecent assault and battery involve the alleged victim, a young child, who Perez-Lopez reportedly assaulted on the school grounds.
The arrest of Perez-Lopez came after a police investigation into the assault allegations, which led to the charges filed against him. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stepped in due to his status as an undocumented immigrant.
ICE's Response and Immigration Detainer
Upon Perez-Lopez's apprehension, ICE lodged an immigration detainer with the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department, following his arrest for indecent assault and battery on a child.
The immigration detainer is a formal request to hold Perez-Lopez in custody for potential deportation proceedings. The federal agency made it clear that they prioritize the removal of illegally present individuals who commit serious crimes, especially those victimizing residents.
Court Proceedings and Controversy
On November 29, 2024, Perez-Lopez was arraigned at the Boston Municipal Court, Brighton Division, on two counts of indecent assault and battery. The court initially set his bail at $8,000 but later released him on December 12, 2024, after he posted bail.
Despite ICE's request to detain him, the court released Perez-Lopez with GPS monitoring as a condition of his release pending the resolution of his case. The release, despite the immigration detainer, has sparked controversy, raising concerns about the intersection of criminal justice and immigration enforcement.
ICE’s Commitment to Public Safety
ICE has repeatedly emphasized that it will continue to pursue individuals like Perez-Lopez who are illegally present in the U.S. and commit criminal offenses.
Patricia H. Hyde, acting Field Office Director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston, stated, “We will not tolerate the victimization of our residents at the hands of alien offenders.”
ICE is actively working to ensure that Perez-Lopez remains in custody and to advance his immigration case before a Department of Justice immigration judge.
