Filipino convict among illegal aliens arrested in US over weekend — DHS
NEW YORK — A Filipino was among at least 11 illegal aliens convicted of various crimes who were arrested during separate operations by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities over the weekend.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the individual was a 29-year-old illegal alien from the Philippines. He was arrested in Middlesex, Massachusetts.
According to the DHS, the individual was convicted of multiple charges, including rape, aggravated rape of a child, rape of a child with force, four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14.
Information about the arrested Filipino was released by the DHS on July 21 as it reported "criminal illegal aliens" arrested over the weekend, "including murderers, pedophiles, and rapists."
In a statement, US Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the arrests were part of President Donald Trump's campaign against criminal illegal aliens.
"Over the weekend, our brave ICE agents arrested more depraved criminal illegal aliens, including murderers, rapists, and three child pedophiles. These are the types of barbaric criminals our ICE law enforcement officers are arresting and removing from American communities every day," McLaughlin said.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. released an advisory in response to the recent arrests of Filipinos in connection with child abuse cases, reminding Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) that such crimes are serious violations of American law.
The embassy did not mention a specific incident but the statement was made after US online news Wavy said the Filipino workers of Carnival Sunshine cruise line, all bearing valid 10-year C-1/D visas, were "forcibly removed in handcuffs" by Customs and Border Patrol officers at the Port of Norfolk in Virginia.
"In view of the increasing incidents of arrests, detention, and deportation of individuals due to child pornography-related offenses, the Philippine Embassy reminds members of the Filipino community and overseas Filipino workers in the United States, including those onboard vessels in U.S. territorial waters, that child pornography is one of the worst forms of child exploitation. Consuming such material perpetuates this exploitation," the embassy said in its advisory.
"U.S. federal and state laws criminalize the production, promotion, possession, viewing, transportation, and distribution of child pornography. Individuals caught engaging in these acts may be prosecuted, penalized, and deported."
"In this regard, everyone is strongly urged to refrain from downloading, possessing, viewing, transporting, distributing, or selling child pornography," the advisory said.
The embassy also assured the Filipino community that it is ready to assist individuals who believe they have been wrongly accused, urging them to contact the Embassy or the nearest Philippine Consulate immediately.
"The Philippine Embassy respects the right of individuals to seek redress or take legal action if they believe they have been wrongly accused of legal infractions. Please contact the Philippine Embassy or the nearest Philippine Consulate General and Migrant Workers Office for consular and welfare assistance," the embassy said. — Dave Llavanes Jr./ VDV, GMA Integrated News
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