A daycare in Cape Cod shut down this week following the discovery of illegal immigrants involved in serious crimes back in their home country.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that an individual named Tiagolucas was arrested in Born, Massachusetts last October. Lucas, the father of two children belonging to Nunes, fled Brazil to evade a nine-year prison sentence for raping a 13-year-old girl. Nunes had operated a licensed home daycare for three years, but her license expired in March.
Worcester County Sheriff Lou Evangelidis expressed concerns about Lucas being allowed unsupervised access at the home daycare.
He informed 25 investigators:
It’s unsettling to think that Brazilian nationals are not just vanishing into the Massachusetts landscape, but are also residing in a daycare center.
The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) conducted five inspections at the facility without discovering any records of Tiago Lucas residing there. State Legislator Stephen Sialjos criticized the investigation for being inadequate.
“I think there wasn’t enough effort to ensure each location is safe or to perform proper background checks and observe the environment during visits for any signs of trouble,” Representative Xiarhos commented to reporters.
“Our children deserve safety, and entrusting them to daycare feels like a risk,” Xiarhos added.
This situation raises alarms about the efficacy of state oversight concerning daycare facilities, particularly regarding individuals with criminal histories from abroad and their role in licensed childcare environments, as well as the rigor of current background check processes.
Massachusetts has unique laws in place, originally enacted in 1983 to address the homelessness crisis and provide housing support for families and pregnant women.
“However, an influx of immigrants alongside a shortage of affordable housing options has overwhelmed the system,” Fox News pointed out. “Since 2021, this law has facilitated the development of a wide network of immigrant shelters costing taxpayers over $3 billion.”
