Controversy Erupts Over Massachusetts’ Release of Migrants Facing Serious Charges

Massachusetts officials are under fire for releasing illegal migrants accused of serious crimes without notifying ICE, raising serious safety concerns.

At a Glance

Illegal migrant Bryan Daniel Aldana-Arevalo was released without notifying ICE, despite being charged with sexual assault against a child in Nantucket.
Similar releases occurred in cases in Martha’s Vineyard and Lynn, aggravating community safety concerns.
ICE criticizes local Massachusetts authorities for failing to communicate with federal immigration enforcement.
This situation underscores broader debates on the Biden-Harris administration’s immigration policies and border security measures.

Cases Raising Alarm

28-year-old Bryan Daniel Aldana-Arevalo was charged with sexually assailting a pre-teen in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Despite the gravity of the accusations, local authorities released him on bail without notifying ICE. He was subsequently apprehended by ICE officers on September 10 and is now in federal custody.

Aldana-Arevalo faced charges including one count of child sexual assault with a 10-year age difference and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. Laws seemingly designed to protect the innocent have been bypassed, leading to real threats to community safety.

Another troubling case involves Jorge Luis Castro-Alvarado, a Guatemalan national charged with sex crimes in Lynn, Massachusetts. ICE had lodged an immigration detainer against him after an arrest for assault and battery on a household member. However, despite the detainer, the court released him on bail without alerting immigration authorities, for which he was eventually re-arrested by ICE on August 1.

Broad Concerns and Impact

Warley Neto, another illegal migrant, was convicted of violent assault in Martha’s Vineyard. Neto was released and went on to allegedly violate a child. He faced multiple indictments, including five counts of child sexual assault and enticing a minor under 16. He originally entered the US illegally in March 2018 and was later arrested for different charges, only to serve minimal time before being released once again.

“Warley Neto allegedly repeatedly assaulted a Massachusetts child and represents a significant threat to the safety of our neighborhoods,” said Todd M. Lyons, director of Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston’s field office.

Authorities apprehended a 44-year-old Colombian national in East Boston, convicted of indecent assault and battery. This arrest was part of a broader nationwide effort that caught 275 noncitizen sex offenders between February 5 and February 16. This individual now remains in custody pending removal proceedings.

The Administration’s Immigration Policy

ICE officers arrested illegal migrants with violent criminal records across Massachusetts. For instance, Gean Do Amaral Belafronte, a Brazilian national, was charged with sexually assaulting a Nantucket resident. While initially entering the U.S. lawfully, he later violated the terms of his admission, resulting in his arrest by Nantucket Police.

“Gean Do Amaral Belafronte unlawfully entered the United States, made his way to Nantucket, and allegedly sexually assaulted one of our residents,” ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd Lyons said in a statement.

Massachusetts continues to grapple with the fallout of its local officials failing to report criminal migrants to ICE. These incidences have exacerbated safety concerns and added a layer of complexity to the discussion surrounding national immigration policies.