An illegal Guatemalan immigrant now charged in Florida with the kidnapping and sexual assault of a child had been freed in the United States with a court date of 2027, officials said this week.
The Palm Beach Sheriff's Office announced that Marvin Pérez López, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, was arrested Saturday for kidnapping a minor under 13 years old and sexual assault.
Detectives learned he arrived in January after crossing into the United States via Mexico and surrendering to Border Patrol. Authorities say he was given a court date for some time in 2027 and released into the US.
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This undated image shows Marvin Pérez López, who has been arrested for kidnapping and sexual assault. (Palm Beach Sheriff's Office)
He is currently being held in the county jail without bond, the office said.
Perez Lopez allegedly grabbed an 11-year-old girl and forced her into his truck, according to the arrest report, reported by CBS 12. The girl's mother reportedly saw them and began banging on the door, before The suspect jumped out of the truck and fled, according to sheriff's deputies.
When officers arrived at his apartment, Perez Lopez allegedly fled into an alley before they finally caught him.
“Here is a Guatemalan who entered the country illegally, was detained by people at the border, released and headed to South Florida. And now he commits a crime in which he held an 11-year-old girl against her will and abused her sexually assaulted her,” Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told the outlet.
In a statement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Pérez López was found by Border Patrol, issued a notice to appear, and was released on a warrant after being found on January 19. A spokesperson said ICE ERO officers have since filed a detainer on him since his arrest on May 5. A detainer is a request by ICE to notify the agency before a suspected illegal immigrant is released from local police custody and to hold him or her until ICE can take him into custody and place him in deportation. proceedings.
The Border Patrol has been overwhelmed by the number of illegal immigrant crossings. (Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The arrest comes as the ongoing crisis at the southern border continues and remains a major political issue in the United States, including the release of migrants into the country.
Republicans have blamed the crisis on the Biden administration's policies, accusing it of adopting “open borders” policies and rolling back successful Trump-era policies.
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The Biden administration says it needs more funding and comprehensive immigration reform from Congress to fix a “broken” system and address the current crisis. She has also pointed to steps she has taken to shorten immigration delays, including a rule that would empower asylum officials to make decisions on asylum cases. He has called on Congress to pass a bipartisan Senate bill introduced earlier this year, which he says allows him to fund border security, including increased expedited removals. But conservatives say the legislation would codify already high levels of illegal immigration.
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Meanwhile, officials at the state and federal level continue to rack up arrests of suspected sex offenders against children who crossed the border illegally. Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens announced last week that agents captured three illegal immigrants with prior felony convictions for “indecency involving child sexual contact” who were crossing the border in Texas.
Get the latest updates on the ongoing border crisis from Fox News Digital's immigration hub.
