Despite repeated requests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be placed under its custody, a Haitian immigrant accused of raping a fifteen-year-old girl at a motel in Massachusetts was freed last week on $500 bail.
A contentious parole program that permits up to 30,000 migrants to enter the country each month granted entry to Cory Alvarez, a 26-year-old Haitian national, has accused him with aggravated rape of a minor in March.
The Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) branch in Boston filed a detainer against Alvarez with the local sheriff’s office on March 14, according to a statement released by ICE.
When authorities notify ICE about someone they think is going to be deported, they are requesting a detainer, which allows them to take the person into federal custody and deport them.
Similar to several “sanctuary” counties, Alvarez was granted bail in this instance as the detainer was not followed.
“On June 27, Plymouth Superior Court refused to honor ERO Boston’s immigration detainer and released Alvarez from custody on a $500 bond,” ICE Boston ERO spokesperson James Covington stated.
According to the Boston Globe, the judge granted $500 bail instead of the $25,000 that the prosecution had requested, subject to a number of conditions, such as home confinement and further surveillance.
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Kelley confirmed that Alvarez was freed on bond, saying, “No injuries were found on the alleged victim. The video surveillance depicts her going into the room and coming out eight minutes later, her clothing undisturbed and walking by two members of the National Guard without comment.”
He added that Alvarez cooperated with the conditions of his bail, which included being confined to his house and giving up his passport. He also cited a decision from a Massachusetts court that held that it was not lawful to keep someone based only on an ICE detainer.
“I’m hopeful that all Karen Read supporters now find a new cause; supporting the innocence of Cory Alvarez,” Kelley continued.
Alvarez entered the country in June as part of the CHNV (Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan) parole program. A small number of Venezuelans were permitted to enter the country directly under the terms of the program, which was initially announced in October 2022.
These individuals had to meet certain requirements, have a sponsor in the country, and not have entered illegally.
