ICE points out that Chicago-area law enforcement agencies routinely denies the detainer requests they lodge against criminal illegal immigrants. They say those illegal are then released where they can reoffend.
That’s exactly what happened in the case of a previously deported illegal immigrant with an aggravated felony conviction who has now been arrested for sexually assaulting a three-year-old girl.
Chrstopher Puente, 34, was arrested on Feb. 19 for sexually assaulting a 3-year-old despite ICE's previous request that police continue detaining the previously deported felon.
In June 2019, ICE lodged an immigration detainer with the Chicago Police Department on Puente, who has several felony convictions and a prior removal, after he was arrested for theft.
That detainer was not honored and on Feb. 19, 2020, Puente was once again arrested, except this time it was for sexually assaulting a 3-year-old at a fast food restaurant.
“How many more victims must there be before lawmakers realize that sanctuary policies do not protect the innocent?” asked Robert Guadian, field office director of Chicago Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). “Puente should have been in ICE custody last year and removed to his home country. Instead, irresponsible lawmaking allowed him to walk free and prey on our most vulnerable.”
Puente has a long criminal history that includes two felony convictions for forced-entry burglary (2011 and 2017) and forgery (2012).
On Dec. 5, 2014, ERO officers removed Puente to Mexico, pursuant to an administrative removal order as Puente is a convicted aggravated felon due to his previous felony burglary conviction.
Five days later, on Dec. 10, 2014, border agents encountered Puente at the Brownsville, Texas, border crossing. Puente claimed to be a U.S. citizen and presented a birth certificate. Puente was subsequently charged with falsely claiming citizenship and served a notice to appear before an immigration judge. On March 30, 2017, an immigration judge ordered Puente removed, in absentia, as he failed to show up for his immigration hearing.
Puente also goes by the aliases Christopher Adam Puente, Chris Jose Puente and Juan Manuel Lopez (age 41).
On Feb. 20, 2020, ICE filed an immigration detainer with Cook County Jail after his sexual assault arrest.