Professor Arrested by ICE for Criminal Past
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained a university professor, Sumit Gunasekera, due to his prior conviction for a sex crime. His criminal history, according to DHS, makes him ineligible for legal status in the United States.
Gunasekera, a Sri Lankan national, was taken into custody on November 12 in Detroit. He reportedly works as an associate professor at Ferris State University, located about 320 miles northwest of Detroit.
During the arrest, Gunasekera was accused of solicitation for sexual contact and sexual interference. He reportedly mentioned the incident involved a minor, as indicated in a DHS report.
His journey to the U.S. began in February 1998, followed by a stint in Canada. He returned to the States later in the same year on a student visa. However, while in Canada, he faced legal troubles, being arrested twice within days in Brampton, Ontario. The first arrest was for making death threats, while the second related to solicitation for sexual contact, again involving a minor, according to DHS.
He was convicted in Canadian court in November 1998, receiving a sentence of one month in jail and a year of probation for the threats and sexual interference.
Fast forward to 2003, and reports indicate that he broke the law again in Las Vegas for indecent exposure and was fined for disorderly conduct shortly afterward.
In 2012, Gunasekera sought a change in his immigration status, which led to the revelation of his Canadian convictions. Consequently, he lost his legal status in the U.S., yet he allegedly tried to manipulate the immigration system through various applications, denials, and appeals.
Assistant Secretary of State Tricia McLaughlin expressed concern over the situation, stating that it’s troubling for a sex offender to hold a position at a university and interact with vulnerable students. McLaughlin commended ICE officers for their role in detaining Gunasekera, emphasizing that he can no longer exploit the immigration system.
As of now, Gunasekera still holds a position as an assistant professor of marketing at Ferris State University, although he has been placed on administrative leave while the institution investigates the allegations.
University officials have acknowledged their awareness of the allegations involving Gunasekera and are currently gathering more information, classifying it as a personnel issue.
Currently, Gunasekera is in ICE custody at a federal facility in Baldwin, Michigan, with further immigration proceedings expected.
