Deported illegal alien arrested in michigan sex crime probe with ice, border patrol assistance

HOUGHTON LAKE, MI — Federal immigration authorities joined local law enforcement to arrest a twice-deported illegal alien accused of raping an 18-year-old woman in Roscommon County, officials announced Monday.

Leocado Hernandez-Garcia, an illegal alien from Mexico, was apprehended with help from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Traverse City agents and U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents from Sault Ste. Marie Station. Authorities said Hernandez-Garcia had previously been deported from the U.S. in 2014 and expelled again under Title 42 in 2023 before illegally reentering the country.

Key Points

Leocado Hernandez-Garcia, a twice-deported illegal alien, arrested in Michigan rape case.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Border Patrol assisted in the apprehension.
Two additional illegal aliens were also taken into custody during the investigation.

Hernandez-Garcia faces five felony counts of criminal sexual conduct, according to officials. The investigation, led by the Roscommon County Sheriff’s Office, remains ongoing with continued support from federal agencies.

“ICE HSI Detroit is committed to assisting our local partners like the Roscommon County Sheriff’s Office on crimes involving illegal aliens in their jurisdiction,” said ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey.

Hernandez-Garcia’s immigration history revealed

Authorities detailed Hernandez-Garcia’s immigration violations, stating that after being removed from the United States in 2014, he was encountered and expelled again in 2023. His most recent reentry occurred at an unknown time and location without inspection by an immigration official.

During the investigation, ICE HSI and USBP agents also encountered two other illegal aliens who were taken into custody and are pending immigration proceedings, officials said.

ICE, Border Patrol praise local partnership in apprehension

“This is another example of the results we achieve through strong partnerships with our local and federal law enforcement agencies,” said Javier Geronimo, Jr., Detroit Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent. Authorities emphasized the role of interagency collaboration in apprehending Hernandez-Garcia and addressing threats to public safety.

No further information about the other two detained individuals has been released. The Roscommon County Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation.

A twice-deported illegal alien accused of a violent crime is now behind bars thanks to a joint federal and local law enforcement effort.

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