U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested a previously deported illegal alien sex offender in Texas, according to a June 2 statement from the Department of Homeland Security.
The Randall County Sheriff’s Office arrested Rufino Varela-Flores, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, for public intoxication on May 24. After authorities determined his immigration status, ICE lodged a detainer for Varela-Flores. Local officials cooperated and transferred him to ICE custody on May 27.
Varela-Flores’ criminal history includes two felony counts of sexual assault and four counts of drug possession. He served a four-year sentence for the sexual assault conviction before being deported in 2015.
Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said, “Thanks to cooperation from state and local partners, this illegal alien sex offender is in ICE custody where he can no longer threaten our communities. His criminal history includes convictions for sex assault and drug possession. After his arrest by local authorities for public intoxication, he was turned over to ICE law enforcement. This is an example of how cooperation with state and local partners makes our country safer. Seven of the top 10 safest cities cooperate with ICE.”
According to DHS, Varela-Flores admitted to first illegally entering the United States in 1994. Following his deportation in 2015, he illegally re-entered the country at an unknown date and location.