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A criminal illegal immigrant accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in New Jersey could soon be released under the state’s sanctuary policies, prompting federal immigration officials to issue a warning to local leaders.
Gerardo García González, a criminal illegal immigrant from Mexico, was arrested by the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office on charges of sexual assault of a victim between the ages of 13 and 15, criminal sexual contact, and sexual assault by force or coercion.
After entering the United States illegally in 2001, González was returned to Mexico and then reentered the country at an unknown time, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“This pedophile should NEVER have been in our country and been able to prey on children in the first place,” Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement. “We call on New Jersey sanctuary politicians to NOT release from jail this predator accused of sexually assaulting a child in New Jersey neighborhoods.”
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Gerardo García González, a Mexican citizen previously deported from the United States, was arrested by the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office on charges including sexual assault of a minor between the ages of 13 and 15. (Department of Homeland Security)
Bis continued: “This is the exact reason we need sanctuary jurisdictions to work with us. No one should want this psychopath on our streets.”
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requested that Gonzalez not be released under the state’s sanctuary policies.
DHS said the request follows proposals by New Jersey politicians for legislation and executive orders “designed to demonize our brave ICE law enforcement.”
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Gerardo García González was arrested in Ocean County on charges including sexual assault of a minor, as Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s administration faces scrutiny over the state’s sanctuary policies. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images; DHS)
Last month, two Democratic members of the state Assembly introduced Act F—ICE, formally known as the “Fighting Unlawful Conduct and Maintaining the Power of Individuals and Communities Act.”
The legislation would allow civil actions for alleged violations of the United States Constitution related to immigration law enforcement.
The bill was drafted after a Democratic Socialist councilman was confronted by a federal agent after arriving at the scene of a raid on the Hudson-Bergen light rail, where an agent told him, “I don’t need a warrant, bro.”
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New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed Executive Order 12 restricting certain immigration enforcement activities on state property shortly after taking office in January. (Eduardo Muñoz Álvarez/Getty Images)
“This is a disgusting bill intended simply to demonize our officers who are experiencing a highly coordinated campaign of violence against our law enforcement,” Bis previously told Fox News Digital.
Shortly after taking office in January, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed Executive Order 12, which restricts ICE activities on state property and creates a portal for residents to report immigration enforcement activities in their communities.
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit last month against New Jersey and Sherrill, accusing the state of expanding its sanctuary policies and obstructing federal immigration law enforcement through the executive order.
DHS said the actions come at a time when law enforcement officers are facing a 1,300% increase in assaults and an 8,000% increase in death threats.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to Sherrill’s office and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz and Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.