U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Border Patrol collaborated with the Roscommon County Sheriff's Office in a case involving an illegal alien accused of sexual assault in Houghton Lake, Michigan. The accused, Leocado Hernandez-Garcia, was arrested on April 25 on charges related to the alleged rape of an 18-year-old girl.
Officials from ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Traverse City, alongside agents from the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) Station Sault Ste Marie, played a role in apprehending Hernandez-Garcia. The suspect, originally from Mexico, has previously been deported from the United States twice. He now faces five felony charges of criminal sexual conduct.
Hernandez-Garcia was first deported in 2014. He reentered the U.S. in 2023 but was expelled under Title 42. Details of when and where he entered for a third time remain unknown.
“ICE HSI Detroit is committed to assisting our local partners like the Roscommon County Sheriff’s Office on crimes involving illegal aliens in their jurisdiction,” mentioned ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey, expressing sympathy for the victim in hopes of aiding her recovery.
Javier Geronimo, Jr., Detroit Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent, highlighted the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation: “This is another example of the results we achieve through strong partnerships with our local and federal law enforcement agencies." He noted the arrest of Hernandez-Garcia and two other illegal aliens, emphasizing continuous community protection efforts.
The Roscommon County Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation with support from ICE HSI and USBP. During the inquiry, two more illegal aliens were detained for future immigration proceedings.
To support victims affected by crimes related to immigration violations, ICE established the Victims Of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office. The initiative offers a toll-free hotline at 1-855-48-VOICE, providing necessary assistance to victims and their families.
