On October 9, 2019 ICE arrested Antonio Ulises Perez, a 38-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador charged with first degree rape, after the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office failed to honor an ICE detainer and released him from custody.
Almost immediately following his release from the Oklahoma County Jail on Oct. 9, Antonio went to the home of the woman he is alleged to have raped.
Under federal law, ICE has the authority to lodge immigration detainers with law enforcement agencies who have custody of individuals arrested on criminal charges and who ICE has probable cause to believe are illegal immigrants.
On Sept. 30, Antonio was arrested by the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office and charged with first degree rape.
On Oct. 8, ICE interviewed Antonio in person, and lodged an immigration detainer with the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, advising them to transfer custody of Antonio to ICE in the event that he was scheduled to be released from local custody.
On Oct. 9 at approximately 3 a.m., the active detainer was not honored, and the jail released Antonio on bond from the Oklahoma County Jail.
On Oct. 9, ICE deportation officers arrested Antonio in Oklahoma City. He remains in ICE custody pending disposition of his immigration proceedings.
ICE is focused on removing public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, as well as individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws, including those who illegally re-entered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges.
