ICE officials arrest Ecuadorian fugitive in Northampton

An Ecuadorian man was arrested in Northampton by Immigration, and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials and faces charges of rape of a minor and invasion of privacy in his home country.

An Ecuadorian man was arrested in Northampton by Immigration, and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials and faces charges of rape of a minor and invasion of privacy in his home country. ERO BOSTON

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

Staff Writer

Published: 07-08-2024 11:21 AM

NORTHAMPTON – An Ecuadorian man wanted for rape of a child in his home country was recently arrested in Northampton by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.

The arrest occurred on June 12 and was carried out by members of Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston, the ICE field office that handles cases in New England. According to the office, the man, who was not named by officials, had entered the United States illegally in June of 2021 from the U.S.-Mexico border near San Luis, Arizona. He had been arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents but was later released from custody after being issued a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge.

In May 2023, an arrest warrant was put out by Ecuadorian authorities for the man as a fugitive of justice, with charges of rape of a minor and an invasion of privacy in his home country. He was arrested in Northampton nearly a year later by ICE officials.

“This Ecuadorian fugitive is facing some very serious charges,” said Todd Lyons, the Boston field office director, in a statement. “He posed a significant threat to the children of our communities, and we cannot allow that to continue.”

Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.

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