Ice arrests migrant child sex offender in new york city after third illegal reentry

ICE arrests migrant child sex offender in New York City after third illegal reentry

ICE arrests repeat offender with child sex conviction following his latest illegal reentry into the United States.

NEW YORK, NY — A Guatemalan national convicted of sexually assaulting a child and repeatedly entering the United States illegally was arrested in New York City following his release from federal prison, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced.


Key Points

  • Abel Osbaldo Mendez, 29, was arrested by ICE in New York after completing a prison sentence for illegal reentry.
  • Mendez has been deported from the U.S. three times and has a 2019 conviction for sexual battery of a child.
  • ICE described him as a “major threat” and cited public safety in enforcing his removal.

ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers took custody of Abel Osbaldo Mendez, 29, on March 28 after he was released from the Federal Correctional Institution in Otisville, located in Orange County, New York. He had been serving a 12-month sentence for illegal reentry following a prior deportation.

Mendez, originally removed in 2014 after illegally crossing the southern border and falsely claiming to be a Mexican citizen, reentered the U.S. multiple times. In 2019, he was arrested by Suffolk County Police for sexually assaulting a child and later convicted of sexual battery of a child.

History of repeated removals

After his 2019 conviction, a Justice Department immigration judge ordered his removal, and he was deported to Guatemala in December 2019. Mendez was arrested again in August 2020 for another illegal reentry and was deported in February 2021. ICE officers again encountered him in Virginia in May 2024, where he was charged and convicted of illegal reentry for the third time.

“Convicted child predators such as this thrice removed illegal alien represent a major threat to our communities,” said William P. Joyce, acting field office director for ERO New York City.

ICE confirmed that Mendez has been processed for reinstatement of his prior removal order and is now in custody pending further immigration enforcement proceedings.

Shore News Network

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.