Guatemalan illegal immigrant with criminal history charged with child sex crimes in Massachusetts

On Thursday, Deportation officers from Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston apprehended the unidentified 33-year-old Guatemalan national near his home in Lynn, Mass, according to a press release from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

He is scheduled to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge and will remain in the ICE’s custody pending deportation.

It is currently unknown when, where, or how the Guatemalan national entered the US without being inspected, admitted, or paroled.

Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons said in a statement, “This unlawfully present Guatemalan national has been charged with sex crimes against Massachusetts children. His very presence in our community represents a dire threat to our residents."

The unidentified illegal immigrant was first arrested in Lynn in March 2022 on charges of assault and battery of a household member, strangulation/suffocation, and reckless endangerment of a child.

A year later, the Lynn District Court dismissed all charges against him, according to ICE.

In June 2023, the illegal immigrant was brought up on new charges in East Boston District Court of compulsory insurance violation; number plate obscured/not displayed/concealed ID; and forgery.

Those charges were also dismissed.

In November 2023, the man was arraigned in Lynn District Court on new charges including three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14; assault to rape a child; two counts of assault and battery on a child with injury; and intimidation.

According to ICE, the court dismissed all indictments for superior court arraignment in Feb. 2024.

ERO Boston lodged an arrest warrant and immigration detainer against the man on Nov. 20, 2023, with the Essex County Correctional Facility in Middleton, Mass but the Massachusetts Court System refused to honor the immigration detainer and ordered the release of the man.

On Feb 26, 2024, he was arraigned in Essex Superior Court on nine counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14; rape of a child; two counts of assault and battery; and intimidation of a witness.

The Massachusetts Court System refused to honor ERO Boston’s immigration detainer and ordered the release of the Guatemalan illegal immigrant.

Deportation officers arrested him again on March 28, 2024, near his residence in Lynn Massachusetts, and served him with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice (DOJ) immigration judge and he will remain in ERO's custody pending removal proceedings.