U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requested on April 1 that Lexington authorities not release Jorge Luis Martinez-Ulloa, a 31-year-old Honduran national, who has been charged with kidnapping, rape of a child under the age of 12, sodomy of a minor, assault, and strangulation in Lexington, Kentucky.
The request comes after local police arrested Martinez-Ulloa for allegedly kidnapping a child and holding her in an apartment where he is accused of grabbing her by the neck and raping her. ICE lodged an arrest detainer with the Fayette County Jail on March 29 to ensure that Martinez-Ulloa would not be released into the community without notification to federal authorities.
Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said, “This criminal illegal alien kidnapped and raped a child. ICE is requesting Lexington not release this child predator without notification to ICE law enforcement. Thankfully, Lexington cooperates with ICE, so this pedophile will not be released from jail back into American neighborhoods.” Bis also said more cooperation from cities and states is needed: “We need more cities and states to cooperate with us to help remove sickos like this from our country. Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, ICE will continue arresting and removing child rapists from our country.”
According to information provided by ICE, Martinez-Ulloa first entered the United States illegally in 2012 near Laredo, Texas during the Obama administration but was subsequently removed back to Honduras. He reportedly re-entered the U.S. multiple times between February and March 2021 during the Biden administration after being removed previously.
ICE stated it continues efforts around the clock to remove individuals convicted or accused of serious crimes who do not have legal status in the United States. The agency encourages anyone with information about such cases to contact its tip line or visit its official website.
