Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have arrested Maynor Francisco Hernandez-Rodas, a 38-year-old illegal immigrant from Guatemala, after Massachusetts court officials released him despite charges of raping a child. Hernandez-Rodas, who entered the country illegally as one of millions of “gotaways,” is accused of aggravated rape of a child and was initially arrested by local police in June.
The Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division of ICE had been pursuing Hernandez-Rodas and detained him in Lowell, Massachusetts, on September 20. According to a statement by ERO Boston, Hernandez-Rodas “represents a significant danger to the children of our community.” The agency criticized the court for ignoring an immigration detainer placed on him, allowing him to be released into the public.
The illegal immigrant’s criminal history includes a conviction in Connecticut for breach of peace in 2011 and another breach of peace conviction in 2016. Despite his past offenses and his illegal status, the court’s decision to release him has drawn attention to the broader issue of how illegal immigrants with criminal records are handled in the legal system.
Under the Biden-Harris administration, deportations of convicted criminal illegal immigrants have dropped by 74%, even as millions of illegal border crossers continue to enter the country. The situation with Hernandez-Rodas raises concerns about the consequences of current immigration policies and how they impact public safety.
