A Haitian migrant accused of raping a 15-year-old girl in Massachusetts was released on just $500 bail, despite ICE's efforts to detain him for deportation, sparking outrage over the handling of his case.
A Haitian migrant, Cory Alvarez, who was charged with the rape of a 15-year-old girl at a Massachusetts hotel, was released on $500 bail last week, despite ongoing requests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to transfer him to its custody.
Alvarez, a 26-year-old Haitian national, entered the U.S. through a controversial parole program that permits up to 30,000 migrants per month to enter the country. He was charged with the aggravated rape of a child in March.
ICE stated that its Boston branch of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) had filed a detainer against Alvarez with the local sheriff's office on March 14. A detainer is a request for authorities to notify ICE about an individual they believe should be deported so that the person can be taken into federal custody.
However, in line with the policies of many "sanctuary" jurisdictions, the detainer was not honored, and Alvarez was released on bail. "On June 27, Plymouth Superior Court refused to honor ERO Boston’s immigration detainer and released Alvarez from custody on a $500 bond," said ICE Boston ERO spokesperson James Covington.
According to The Boston Globe, prosecutors had initially requested a $25,000 bail, but the judge set it at $500, with the condition that Alvarez comply with home confinement and other monitoring measures.
Brian A. Kelley, Alvarez’s attorney, informed Fox News Digital that Alvarez was released after a three-part hearing that included an examination of medical records, surveillance footage, and testimony. Kelley stated that no injuries were found on the alleged victim and that surveillance video showed her entering and leaving the room within eight minutes, with her clothing undisturbed and without comment from two members of the National Guard who were present.
Kelley also noted that Alvarez complied with bail conditions, including home confinement and the surrender of his passport. He referenced a Massachusetts court ruling that does not permit holding an individual solely based on an ICE detainer and expressed hope that supporters of Karen Read, a separate case, would now rally behind Alvarez’s innocence.
Alvarez entered the U.S. in June under a parole process that applies to migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV). This program, first announced for Venezuelans in October 2022, allows a limited number of migrants to fly directly into the U.S. if they have a sponsor, have not entered illegally, and pass certain checks. In January 2023, the program was expanded to include Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Cubans, permitting up to 30,000 migrants per month to enter the U.S. under specific conditions, including work permits and a two-year authorization to live in the country.
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