A migrant who was released into the United States through a parole pipeline has been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on charges of aggravated rape of a child under 16.
Cory Alvarez, a 26-year-old national of Haiti, was taken into federal custody this week after being released from a local jail in March on $500 bail. Alvarez had been indicted in March on charges of raping a 15-year-old girl in Rockland, Massachusetts.
According to authorities, Alvarez had been residing in a taxpayer-funded migrant shelter in Massachusetts, a state that has declared itself a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants. It was there that he allegedly invited the minor to his room, promising to help her with her tablet, but instead, he allegedly raped her as she attempted to resist.
Alvarez’s release into the US was facilitated by the now-defunct Central American Minors (CAM) parole pipeline, a program established by the Biden-Harris administration. The program, which was shut down by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) due to widespread fraud, had allowed over 500,000 migrants to enter the country.
The case has raised concerns among lawmakers, with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) and immigration subcommittee Chairman Tom McClintock (R-CA) seeking information from DHS on how Alvarez was able to enter the US through the parole pipeline. It remains unclear whether DHS has responded to the request.
Alvarez’s arrest has highlighted the risks associated with the parole pipeline, which had been criticized for its lax vetting procedures and lack of oversight. The program’s shutdown has been seen as a victory for immigration enforcement advocates, who argue that it was a magnet for fraud and abuse.
