ICE Arrests Mexican National for Sending Explicit Texts

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested a man suspected of sending sexual texts to someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl in South Dakota.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the apprehension of Federico Pascual-Jimenez, a 34-year-old from Mexico.

Originally, in May, an ICE officer masquerading as a 14-year-old during an undercover operation engaged in text exchanges with Pascual-Jimenez. When the agent revealed her age, he reportedly replied, “I think age doesn’t matter.”

Authorities noted that Pascual-Jimenez sent numerous explicit messages, outlining his intentions for a sexual relationship with the perceived minor. One message even expressed a desire for secrecy, suggesting, “but what if you wanted to keep this relationship strictly secret – where you are mine and mine alone, and I am yours?”

He also advised the “child” against revealing her age in any messages, instructing her to “delete that text now” after she mentioned being 14.

On May 27th, he arranged to meet the perceived girl at a public swimming pool parking lot in Sioux Falls. When he arrived, Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) agents quickly surrounded his vehicle and arrested him.

Pascual-Jimenez is now facing both federal and state felony charges related to enticing a minor for indecent purposes and illegal re-entry into the U.S.

“This individual was arrested after persistently sending sexual messages to someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl,” explained DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “He has a history that includes a DUI conviction and has been deported five times previously. ICE has placed a detainer on him, asking South Dakota officials to ensure he is not released from jail so we can remove him from our country and prevent him from targeting any more innocent children.”

According to federal records, Pascual-Jimenez first entered the U.S. illegally in 2001 via Arizona but was later returned voluntarily to Mexico. He re-entered illegally through Texas in April 2012, only to depart voluntarily again. After two more illegal entries through California that year—resulting in a felony immigration charge—he was deported each time. Following a fifth illegal entry through Texas in July 2012, he was again deported that August. He later re-entered the country a sixth time at an unknown date before arriving in South Dakota.