In a troubling case, ICE agents arrested an illegal immigrant in Massachusetts accused of child rape after local court officials released him despite the serious charges.
Maynor Francisco Hernandez-Rodas, a 38-year-old Guatemalan national, was charged with aggravated rape of a child in June but was released by Middlesex County Superior Court even though ICE had placed an immigration detainer on him.
Hernandez-Rodas, who entered the US illegally and has a history of criminal activity, was finally apprehended by ICE agents in Lowell on September 20. ERO Boston, the division responsible for his arrest, condemned the court’s actions, with acting Field Office Director Patricia Hyde stating, “He represents a significant danger to the children of our community.”
Hernandez-Rodas had been previously convicted of breach of peace in Connecticut in 2011 and 2016. Despite this record, the Massachusetts court ignored ICE’s request to detain him, allowing him to be released back into the community.
The case has highlighted growing concerns about the enforcement of immigration laws under the Biden-Harris administration. With deportations of criminal illegal immigrants dropping by 74%, the handling of Hernandez-Rodas has intensified debate over the safety of communities impacted by illegal immigration.
