In collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, the U.S. Border Patrol's (CBP) Miami Sector detained 10 undocumented immigrants, including at least two individuals from Cuba, all of whom had prior convictions for sex offenses.
Arrests were made over the past three weeks thanks to the efforts of the aforementioned agencies involved, with the goal of safeguarding the communities of the Florida Keys and eliminating dangerous individuals from the region.
According to a statement released by CBP, Miami Sector Patrol Chief Jeffrey Dinise said, “Each of these individuals represented a threat to the communities in which we live.”
The detainees, who live in the Keys, are classified as sex offenders by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Their convictions include:
-Lewd and obscene acts against a minor under 16 years of age.
-Lewd and lascivious sexual assault against a victim between 12 and 15 years old.
-Statutory sexual seduction.
-Solicitation of a minor for sexual activities.
Among the Hispanic detainees, two are Cuban, according to local news sources. The Cubans are named Manuel Ismael Pérez and Osiel Rodríguez-González.
Manuel Ismael Perez, a registered sex offender, was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Key West after illegally crossing into South Florida from Cuba many years ago.
While being detained, the Cuban told a Local 10 reporter, who was present at the operation, "I know my criminal record." His record includes offenses including sexual acts with a minor, aggravated assault, and drug trafficking.
"I've been here for 70 years. I have three children. I have eight grandchildren," Manuel said.
Osiel Rodríguez-González, the other Cuban identified in the arrests, currently resides in the United States without legal status. He has a history of domestic violence and drug trafficking, and has been convicted of assaulting and suffocating a dog.
The ten people who were detained have been processed and are now in ICE custody, pending deportation proceedings.
Public participation is of great importance to cooperate with any unusual behavior near the Florida border, so you can notify authorities at (877) 772-8146, the Miami Sector noted.
