U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has asked local law enforcement in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, not to release Arnol De Jesus Guevara-Lopez, a Honduran national accused of statutory rape of a child under 15 years old, kidnapping, and indecent liberties with a child. ICE first lodged an arrest detainer for Guevara-Lopez in February 2025, but local authorities did not honor the request and released him.
Guevara-Lopez was re-arrested on February 10, 2026, after failing to meet bond conditions. ICE has since filed another detainer seeking his transfer into federal custody.
“These are the types of monsters North Carolina sanctuary politicians are protecting from immigration enforcement and RELEASING from their jails into our neighborhoods to prey on American children,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “This is a perfect example of why sanctuary policies make Americans less safe. We are calling on Charlotte sanctuary politicians to commit to turning this child rapist over to ICE, so he can never walk American streets again. Sanctuary politicians must stop releasing pedophiles and rapists into our neighborhoods.”
Sanctuary policies have led to the release of approximately 1,400 individuals with criminal records who were in the country illegally back onto North Carolina streets.
The Department of Homeland Security states that its law enforcement agencies work daily to prevent crimes committed by individuals who have entered or remained in the United States unlawfully. Victims impacted by such crimes can seek assistance through the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office at 1-855-488-6423.
