ICE Boston arrests illegal Guatemalan national charged with forcibly raping Massachusetts minor

BOSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended an illegally present Guatemalan national charged with three counts of forcible rape of a child and three counts of aggravated rape of a child when officers arrested Jose Fernando-Perez, 49, in Framingham, Massachusetts, Feb. 2.

“Jose Fernando-Perez has been charged with some horrific crimes against a minor in our commonwealth,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “He is exactly the type of alien we are targeting with our ‘worst first’ policy. He posed a significant danger to the children of Massachusetts, and we will not tolerate such a threat to our community. ICE Boston will continue to prioritize the safety of our public by arresting and removing egregious alien offenders from our New England communities.”

Fernando illegally entered the United States on an unknown date, at an unknown location, and without being inspected, admitted, or paroled by a U.S. immigration official.

The Lynn District Court in Massachusetts arraigned Fernando Dec. 6, 2005, for leaving the scene of an accident with property damage and for attaching inaccurate license plates. The court convicted him of those charges Oct. 19, 2012.

The Lynn District Court arraigned Fernando April 19, 2022, for rape of a child by force. The court later dismissed the case due to an indictment in the superior court.

ICE lodged an immigration detainer against Fernando May 16, 2022, with the Essex County House of Correction.

The Essex County Superior Court in Salem, Massachusetts arraigned Fernando on three counts of rape of a child by force and three counts of aggravated rape of a child.

The Essex County Superior Court ignored the immigration detainer against Fernando and released him on pre-trial conditions Oct. 6, 2022.

ICE officers served Fernando with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge following his arrest, and he remains in ICE custody.

Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our New England communities on X: @EROBoston.