An undocumented immigrant from Guatemala living in Massachusetts was repeatedly accused of sexually abusing children but was shielded from deportation by the state’s sanctuary policies.
He was arrested and had charges dismissed multiple times between 2022-2024 for assault, battery, strangulation, reckless endangerment of a child, forgery, and indecent assault/battery of children under 14.
ICE lodged a detainer against him in November 2023 but the state court released him back into the community instead of transferring him to ICE custody.
He was finally arrested by ICE agents in March 2024 and remains detained pending deportation.
The case highlights how sanctuary policies can protect undocumented immigrants from facing immigration consequences even when accused of serious crimes.
