Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have re-arrested an illegal immigrant accused of raping a child in Massachusetts after local court officials released him despite an immigration detainer. Maynor Francisco Hernandez-Rodas, a 38-year-old Guatemalan national, had been charged with aggravated rape of a child in June but was let go by the court following his arraignment.
Hernandez-Rodas was arrested by Lowell police on June 20 but remained free for months until ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) agents detained him in Lowell on September 20. Patricia Hyde, acting Field Office Director for ERO Boston, expressed frustration with the court’s decision, stating that Hernandez-Rodas “represents a significant danger” to the community.
Hernandez-Rodas entered the US illegally and has prior convictions for breach of peace in Connecticut. The court’s decision to release him has drawn criticism from immigration enforcement officials, who argue that such actions jeopardize public safety.
Under the Biden-Harris administration, deportations of illegal immigrants with criminal convictions have plummeted by 74%. Cases like Hernandez-Rodas’ have reignited debate about the administration’s handling of illegal immigration and its impact on American communities.
