An illegal immigrant accused of sex crimes was apprehended by ICE in the blue city following his release from prison.

ICE arrested a Dominican illegal immigrant in Boston who was charged with sex crimes and kidnapping, despite a request by the agency to hold him in local custody.

On December 17, in Boston, ICE announced the arrest of Emilio Jose Pena-Casilla, a 46-year-old man, who is accused of assault to rape, kidnapping, two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or older, and intimidation of an official, witness, or juror.

In January 2023, Pena-Casilla entered the U.S. illegally near Eagle Pass, Texas, and was enrolled in the Alternatives to Detention program. However, he was removed from the program a month later.

In July, he was arraigned in Massachusetts, but despite a detainer issued by ICE's ERO in Boston, the district court ignored it and he was released on GPS bail. ICE eventually tracked him down in December.

"ERO Boston's acting Field Office Director Patricia Hyde stated that Emilio Jose Pena-Casilla is accused of serious offenses against a Massachusetts resident. She emphasized that ERO Boston has a duty to protect community residents and will continue to do so by apprehending and removing egregious noncitizen offenders. As a result, a victim in Massachusetts no longer has to fear their predator."

Boston is one of several cities that restrict or prohibit local law enforcement from working with ICE. Proponents of sanctuary policies argue that they enable illegal immigrants to collaborate with local law enforcement, while opponents contend that they lead to the release of criminal illegal immigrants back onto the streets.

The Boston City Council recently strengthened its sanctuary policies by passing a resolution to restrict cooperation with ICE and prohibit police from detaining migrants for deportation without a criminal warrant.

The council's resolution asserts that mass deportation proposals pose a direct threat to Boston's immigrant families and communities.

With the upcoming Trump administration, sanctuary policies have been brought back into the limelight, as the administration has pledged to increase deportations and carry out a massive operation to potentially remove millions of undocumented immigrants.

Several Democratic officials in states, including Massachusetts, have declared they will not assist in the deportation drive. Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, has suggested there could be legal repercussions for those who hinder the operation.

Nearly 250 officials in jurisdictions that limit or forbid local law enforcement cooperation with ICE have been notified by America First Legal of potential legal consequences for interfering with the feds or concealing illegal immigrants.

The letter states that your jurisdiction has been identified as a sanctuary jurisdiction that is in violation of federal law. This puts you and your subordinates at risk of criminal and civil liability. As a result, the letter is being sent to inform you of this risk and demand that you comply with the laws of our nation.