Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently claimed credit for securing the arrest of an illegal immigrant accused of rape and sexual abuse in Oregon. The suspect has found his way to Florida, and DeSantis said he wants the man deported after federal immigration officials initially turned away detainees. Oregon authorities also had to apply for a policy exception to approve the extradition request.
“We had to extract a tooth to get an illegal alien arrested in Florida into federal custody, but he was wanted in Oregon for rape and sexual abuse charges. Oregon “The state had no interest in pursuing justice, so the plan was to release him. They arrested him on the streets of Florida,” DeSantis said. “That’s unacceptable. We had to fight back to get this person in custody.”
The case concerns Juan Jose Sebastian, 26, a Guatemalan national who entered the United States as an unaccompanied minor in 2015 and was ordered deported by an immigration judge in 2019. be. He has an outstanding warrant for rape and sexual abuse charges in Washington County, Oregon.
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Jose Sebastian was arrested by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office last month in Florida on suspicion of driving without a license. MCSO then contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to file a detainer complaint and request advance notice so that the detainer could be transferred to ICE custody upon release.
In a statement to FOX News Digital on Tuesday, the Florida Highway Patrol said MCSO conducted a pre-release warrant search on March 1 and discovered an Oregon warrant on three counts of rape and sexual assault. He said that he recognized that. However, Florida officials said Oregon has since “refused to extradite” him and ICE also withdrew the detainer because it “does not meet current enforcement priorities.” As a result, MCSO could no longer detain him for the driving violation and had to release him.
In the news release, ICE confirmed Jose Sebastian was released from custody and MCSO said he was released, but an outstanding warrant for rape and sexual abuse was filed after an initial records review did not show he met enforcement priorities. He said the detainees were released without the authorities’ knowledge. Officials who learned of the warrant said: ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) He partnered with MCSO and was arrested the next day, March 2nd.
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“At the direction of Governor DeSantis’ office, the Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement intervened to ensure that illegal alien and rapist suspect Juan Jose Sebastian was taken into custody and held pending his surrender to ICE. “Florida State said. Molly Best of the Highway Patrol said.
“Based on the latest information, we anticipate the deportation of Jose Sebastian.”
Oregon authorities have now agreed to extradite Jose Sebastian, but have not heard from Florida, which claims they learned about the matter from the media. The Washington County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement that extradition authorizations are typically made by the governor’s office and that policy depends on the classification of the crime.
Rape in Oregon is classified as an A, B, or C felony depending on a variety of factors. Third-degree rape is a class C felony that applies when the victim is 15 or 16 years old and the perpetrator is at least three years older. Only the A and B felonies are subject to presumptive national extradition, and Jose Sebastian was charged with third-degree rape.
According to the Washington County Attorney’s Office, “We have not had any contact with anyone in the state of Florida, including the Florida Governor’s Office or Florida Law Enforcement. We contacted the Oregon Governor’s Office on March 6th and requested that an exception be made.” I asked if I could have it.” [nationwide extradition policy]. On the same day, the Oregon Governor’s Office agreed to authorize extradition funding and elevate the warrant to national status. ”
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s office did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital, but confirmed: local outlet She said the extradition is proceeding after she authorized it, and that her office considers extradition requests on a case-by-case basis.
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The incident comes amid ongoing debate over the deportation of illegal immigrants and the ongoing immigration crisis at the southern border. The issue gained attention after the death of Laken Riley of Georgia. The suspect charged in her murder is a Venezuelan national who entered the country illegally.
“How pathetic that there is any question of letting a person like this — someone who should not be in this country in the first place — back on the streets,” DeSantis said.
