ICE arrests national convicted of first-degree child sexual assault in Providence

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials announced Wednesday the arrest of a Guatemalan man convicted of child molestation in Providence.

The 55-year-old man in the country illegally was taken into custody by Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston’s Providence office on April 17.

The Guatemalan native was convicted of first-degree child molestation/sexual assault in Providence Superior Court on Dec. 12, 2022, and sentenced to 25 years of incarceration, which was reduced to six years with 19 years suspended, according to ICE.

He was released from the Adult Correctional Institution in Cranston on April 17 after the completion of his sentence and was subsequently arrested by deportation officers.

“This unlawfully present Guatemalan national has been convicted of sex crimes against a minor,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd Lyons in a statement. “He has already violated U.S. immigration laws, and we will not allow him back out into our Rhode Island neighborhoods to re-offend.”

Officials said the man will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.