Haitian National’s Arrest by ICE Sparks Debate Over Immigration and Justice

“We cannot allow illegal immigration to lead to lawlessness. Our borders must be secure, and our laws must be respected.”

Immigration authorities of America have ignited controversy this week by arresting a Haitian national accused of sexually assaulting a minor in Massachusetts, just as he was about to appear in court. The suspect, 26-year-old Cory B. Alvarez, allegedly committed the assault at a shelter in Rockland back in March.

Despite an immigration detainer placed on Alvarez by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division in Boston on the day of his arrest, the county court released him on a mere $500 bond in June. However, just before he was due for a crucial court hearing regarding the alleged rape, ERO agents swooped in and detained him.

Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have located and arrested a Haitian immigrant who had previously been released on a $500 bond despite facing charges of raping a child in Massachusetts.#ICE #Haiti #Haitian #MA #Massachusetts pic.twitter.com/KLeSvKSfMG

— TruthGateOfficial (@TruthGateOff) August 14, 2024

This sudden federal intervention has left prosecutors deeply concerned that they may now struggle to bring Alvarez to trial. “If he leaves the state or the country, it’s going to be extremely difficult for the Commonwealth to ensure he faces justice,” warned Massachusetts Assistant District Attorney Shanan Buckingham.

Legal experts argue that this case exemplifies the tangled web of overlapping jurisdictions and bureaucratic inefficiencies that plague U.S. immigration policy. State, local, and federal agencies often collide, each asserting its own authority, sometimes to the detriment of justice, particularly when an undocumented immigrant is involved in a serious crime.

The Alvarez case isn’t an isolated incident. Just this week, another shocking story emerged from New York, where two migrants allegedly assaulted a woman at knife-point in Coney Island. Whether ICE will step in remains unclear, but it’s common for the Department of Homeland Security to intervene in violent crime cases involving undocumented individuals, placing them in detention with the aim of deportation, regardless of where their legal proceedings stand.

What the hell is happening to America?

Haitian Illegal Alien who R*ped a 15-year old Disabled Girl in Massachusetts was Released on a $500 Bond

ICE issued a detainee on the suspect but the local Sheriffs ignored it.. 🤦🏻‍♂️

• Alvarez was charged with aggravated rape of a child… pic.twitter.com/dGatmLXYth

— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) August 14, 2024

Michael Kagan, Director of the UNLV Immigration Clinic, offered a blunt assessment: “Immigration enforcement is a cumbersome machine that doesn’t play well with others.” He pointed out that in the Massachusetts case, ICE’s actions might actually hinder the judicial process rather than assist it, potentially allowing the suspect to evade trial altogether by being detained for immigration violations instead of facing criminal charges.

Kagan further explained that this isn’t an anomaly. In cases involving both U.S. citizens and undocumented immigrants, it’s not uncommon for the latter to be deported before they can stand trial, leaving only the citizen to face prosecution. ICE often shares details of such suspects, including whether they’ve previously been deported and reentered the country, only to commit another crime.

Kagan’s critique of the current system is scathing: “If someone’s committed a serious crime, they should be prosecuted and incarcerated like any other person, regardless of their immigration status.” He argues that simply deporting these individuals is an easy out for politicians, but it doesn’t deliver true justice for the victims or the community.

🚨 ICE has found & arrested a Haitian illegal who was released on $500 bond after raping a minor in Massachusetts.

The Biden-Harris Administration’s open-borders put predators before innocents.https://t.co/tV5Yx3YJPz

— Center for Renewing America (@amrenewctr) August 14, 2024

In New York, one of the suspects in the Coney Island attack, 24-year-old David Davon-Bonilla from Nicaragua, had already faced charges for attacking a woman at a migrant shelter in Brooklyn. His alleged accomplice, 37-year-old Leovando Moreno from Mexico, was arrested in New Jersey last year for public lewdness.

As for Alvarez, he had entered the U.S. legally last June but violated the terms of his stay, leading to the alleged assault of the underage girl in March. ERO Boston arrested him outside his residence in Brockton earlier this week. ICE has vowed that Alvarez will still face his day in court, but stressed that their priority remains public safety and preventing any further harm from noncitizens deemed dangerous.

While ICE’s aggressive tactics have removed over 15,000 individuals with criminal convictions and more than 4,000 with pending charges this fiscal year, Kagan remains critical. “Deporting them is just a way to release them,” he said. “If the goal is incarceration, then prosecute them under criminal law and ensure they serve their sentence.”

The case continues to stir debate over how best to handle undocumented immigrants accused of serious crimes, with both sides of the issue digging in for what promises to be a long and contentious battle.

Major Points

• Haitian national arrested by ICE before court appearance for alleged assault.
• Released on $500 bond despite ICE detainer; arrested again by ERO agents.
• Concerns arise that federal intervention may hinder prosecution.
• Legal experts criticize the overlapping jurisdictions complicating justice.
• Case highlights ongoing tensions in handling undocumented immigrants accused of crimes.

Susan Guglielmo – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News