A six-year-old girl was abducted from her Washington Borough, New Jersey home and sexually assaulted in the early morning hours of September 5 by an illegal immigrant who had previously been released by federal immigration authorities, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Lester Noe Perez-Amador, a 27-year-old Guatemalan national, stands accused of taking the child from her residence. Authorities report that Perez-Amador was acquainted with the victim. Police located and rescued the young girl as she ran toward her home.
According to DHS records, Perez-Amador entered the United States illegally, evading border authorities. In March 2024, the Cameron County Police Department arrested him on charges of driving under the influence. Local officers transferred him to Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody at that time. ICE subsequently released him.
Following this most recent arrest, ICE has filed a detainer with local authorities, requesting that Perez-Amador be transferred to federal custody for deportation proceedings should he be released from local jurisdiction.
“We are urging Washington Township authorities to transfer Perez-Amador into ICE custody so we can do what Biden failed to do the first time — get this criminal illegal alien off of our streets and back to Guatemala where he belongs,” a Homeland Security spokesperson stated.
The spokesperson emphasized broader concerns about sanctuary jurisdiction policies, noting that “some sanctuary jurisdictions refuse to work with ICE law enforcement, criminal illegal aliens are released from jails into American communities to perpetuate more crimes. Seven of the top 10 safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE.”
Local law enforcement moved swiftly, apprehending Perez-Amador within 24 hours of receiving the initial report. He now faces charges of aggravated sexual assault of a victim under 13, endangering sexual conduct with a child, kidnapping with bodily injury, and home invasion burglary.
Warren County Prosecutor Jessica L. Cardone commended the coordinated response. “When a child in our community is at risk, law enforcement responds as one,” she said. “I witnessed first-hand as all involved agencies worked with focus on one common goal — to bring this child to safety. Protecting our children is a responsibility we take very seriously, and our commitment does not end with an arrest.”
The charges carry severe penalties. First-degree aggravated sexual assault carries a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison. First-degree kidnapping carries a potential life sentence with 25 years of parole ineligibility. The first-degree home invasion burglary charge carries up to 20 years imprisonment.
This case raises fundamental questions about immigration enforcement procedures and the release protocols employed during the previous administration. The facts speak plainly: an individual previously in federal custody has been charged with heinous crimes against a child. The debate over sanctuary policies and federal-local cooperation in immigration enforcement continues, but tonight, one community grapples with a tragedy that federal officials say might have been prevented.
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