A Honduras man who illegally entered the United States twice in the last decade was released by the “sanctuary” city of Philadelphia, which chose not to comply with a detainer lodged by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE).
After his release, he was arrested again and convicted for the rape of a child.
Travis Fedschun reports at FOX News:
Previously deported illegal immigrant who raped child after Philadelphia release, pleads guilty to reentryA previously deported illegal immigrant from Honduras — who raped a child after Philadelphia authorities ignored an ICE detainer and released him — pleaded guilty Tuesday to illegal reentry.The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced Juan Ramon Vasquez, 45, faces up to two years in federal prison.Vasquez was deported from the U.S. in 2009, but was found to be back in the country in March 2014 and taken into custody. After local criminal charges against him were dropped, Philadelphia officials did not comply with a detainer by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Vasquez was released, according to the U.S Attorney’s Office.After his release in 2015, Vasquez was rearrested and convicted for the rape of a child and unlawful sexual contact with a minor. He’s now serving 8 to 20 years in state prison.
Here is a portion of the Department of Justice press release:
Defendant Released from Local Custody Despite Outstanding ICE Detainer Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry following Philadelphia Conviction for Rape of ChildPhiladelphia, PA – U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Juan Ramon Vasquez, a citizen of Honduras, pleaded guilty today to illegal reentry after deportation. In May 2009, the defendant was deported from the United States. Thereafter, in March 2014, the defendant was found back in the United States by U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) officers. At that time, Vasquez was in the custody of the Philadelphia Department of Prisons.The City of Philadelphia thereafter chose not to comply with a detainer lodged by ICE for the defendant, who was instead released from custody by the Philadelphia Department of Prisons. After his release, the defendant was rearrested and convicted for rape of a child and unlawful sexual contact with a minor. The defendant is currently serving a sentence of 8 to 20 years in state prison.The defendant, having now pleaded guilty to the federal charge of illegal reentry after deportation, faces a maximum possible sentence of two years in federal prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 20, 2018, by the Honorable Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro.
In June, Philadelphia Mayor James Kenney was so happy about a ruling in favor of the city’s sanctuary status, that he did a little dance and high-fived his chief of staff. You may have seen the video:
The Federalist has comments from a U.S. attorney:
U.S. Attorney William McSwain called the policy dangerous in a statement Tuesday, and said law enforcement should be doing everything in its power to protect children from predators.“This defendant received a free pass from the City of Philadelphia and its Department of Prisons, headed straight back into our community, and committed a heinous crime he never would have had the chance to commit had the City of Philadelphia complied with the ICE detainer,” McSwain said.
Featured image via YouTube.
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