Convicted Sexual Predator, Mexican National Arrested by ERO Chicago Following Escape from Local Custody

Multi-Day Manhunt Ends with Apprehension of Dangerous Offender

CHICAGO - After days of intensive searching, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Chicago deportation officers have successfully apprehended a Mexican man who had escaped custody after being convicted of sexually assaulting a child in Illinois. The arrest took place on June 2, bringing an end to the manhunt that gripped the local community.

The individual in question is an unlawfully present Mexican national who was convicted in April 2019 by the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, for predatory criminal sexual assault of a child. He had received a six-year sentence from the Illinois Department of Corrections (DOC). However, in April, he was granted parole with the condition of completing his sentence under electronic monitoring.

Under the terms of his parole, the man was required to register as a sex offender in Illinois, reside in a halfway house, and be actively monitored by state parole officers. However, on May 30, he removed his electronic ankle monitor and went on the run. Following his failure to return to his mandated address, the Illinois DOC issued a warrant for his arrest.

The manhunt, which lasted several days, came to a successful conclusion on June 2 when ERO deportation officers, working in collaboration with the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force and the Chicago ERO Fugitive Operations Team, apprehended the fugitive during a targeted enforcement operation.

"Partnering with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies is a crucial aspect of protecting the children in this community," emphasized acting Field Office Director for ERO Chicago, Ladeon Francis. "We, and our law enforcement partners, work tirelessly each day to remove unlawfully present predators from our streets, but we need the public's help. It's important to note that with a proactive public who report their suspicions to law enforcement, together, we will increase public safety."

The custody of the fugitive was transferred to the United States Marshals Service, who subsequently returned him to the Illinois DOC. The convicted child predator will now continue serving his sentence under the jurisdiction of the Illinois DOC. ERO lodged an immigration detainer with the DOC on June 2.

As part of its mission to identify and arrest removable noncitizens, ERO places immigration detainers on individuals arrested for criminal activities and taken into custody by state or local law enforcement. An immigration detainer is a request from ICE to state or local law enforcement agencies, urging them to notify ICE before the release of a removable noncitizen. Detainers allow ERO to assume custody for removal purposes in accordance with federal law, with the request typically extending the noncitizen's custody for up to 48 hours beyond their scheduled release.

ERO Chicago, as one of ICE's operational directorates, serves as the principal federal law enforcement authority responsible for domestic immigration enforcement. Its mission is to safeguard the homeland by apprehending and removing individuals who pose a threat to U.S. communities and the integrity of immigration laws. The directorate focuses on interior enforcement operations, management of detained and non-detained populations, and the repatriation of noncitizens with final orders of removal. ERO's dedicated workforce comprises over 7,700 law enforcement and support personnel stationed across 25 domestic field offices, 208 locations nationwide, and 30 overseas postings, with additional temporary assignments along the border.

Individuals wishing to report suspicious or criminal activity can contact the ICE Tip Line by dialing 866-347-2423 from the United States and Canada.