ICE arrests Nigerian man convicted of soliciting minor in Rumford

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A Nigerian sex offender in the United States illegally was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials last month.

The 45-year-old man convicted of soliciting a minor in Rumford was taken into custody by Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston on Feb. 15, per officials.

Authorities said the noncitizen entered the United States under the conditions of a nonimmigrant tourist visa in May 2017 and violated the terms of his visa by remaining in the country beyond the time authorized.

He was arrested by Rhode Island State Police in July 2019 on the charge of indecent solicitation of a child and convicted of the offense in May 2022, according to officials.

A Providence court sentenced the man to five years in prison with six months of home confinement and later suspended four and a half years of the sentence.

ERO Boston officers located and arrested the convicted offender without incident last month after they became aware of his presence in their area of responsibility, per authorities.

“Rhode Island is safer with this noncitizen sexual offender off of the streets,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons. “His presence in the community posed a threat to public safety.”

Officials said the man will be held in ICE custody pending a hearing before an immigration judge with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).