Migrant Arrested for Sex Crimes Against Child After Ignored Detainer Request, ICE Reports

A recent incident involving a Guatemalan man living in the United States illegally has sparked controversy and raised concerns about immigration policies. Felix Meletz Guarcas, 45, was arrested by immigration authorities last month in Rhode Island on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child after being released from local custody, despite an immigration detainer request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

ICE reported that Meletz Guarcas was released from the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, disregarding the detainer request that was issued to hold him until federal authorities could take him into custody. This case has reignited debates surrounding sanctuary city policies and the handling of illegal immigrants involved in criminal activities.

Detainers are requests made by immigration authorities to local law enforcement agencies, asking them to notify ICE when an illegal migrant suspect is set to be released. This process allows federal authorities to take the individual into custody for deportation proceedings.

Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia Hyde emphasized the importance of immigration detainers as tools for public safety. Hyde expressed disappointment in the Rhode Island Department of Corrections for releasing Meletz Guarcas to home confinement instead of cooperating with federal authorities.

ICE officials stated that due to the Department of Corrections' failure to notify them of Meletz Guarcas' release to home confinement, ICE officers had to arrest him in a public parking lot in Cranston, rather than in a controlled environment within a custodial setting.

According to ICE, Meletz Guarcas' illegal entry into the U.S. remains unclear. However, his criminal record in the country includes a prior arrest on Feb. 16, 2022, by the Pawtucket Police Department in Rhode Island for misdemeanor disorderly conduct and felony assault of police officers and other officials. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to six months of probation.

On Nov. 20, Meletz Guarcas was arrested again and charged with first-degree sexual assault on a child, along with five counts of second-degree sexual assault on a child. The alleged incident took place on Sept. 3, leading to his arrest and the subsequent legal proceedings.