A Haitian migrant accused of raping a disabled 15-year-old girl has been freed on bail for $500, despite immigration officials requesting he remain in custody.
Cory Alvarez, 26, was arrested for the crime, which occurred at a Boston migrant shelter, in March.
He was released on Tuesday following a hearing to assess the danger he poses to the public.
The Plymouth County District Attorney’s officed argued at that meeting that Alvarez should be held on a $10,000 bail, but the judge decided to set the figure at just $500.
Alvarez has now been released with an ankle monitor, but since Boston is a “sanctuary city,” ICE officials are unable to track him there and local officials do not have to cooperate with the agency. Alvarez has been ordered to remain at home, surrender his passport and have twice-monthly check-ins with the probation office.
Former ICE field office director John Fabbricatore told The New York Postthat Alvarez’s release is symptomatic of “a concerning trend of inadequate and failed vetting procedures.”
“This rushed process undermines the thorough checks typically conducted before granting parole or visas. The current administration’s haphazard approach raises significant safety concerns for US citizens,” Fabbricatore said.
“In particular, this recent case involving an accusation of rape by a Haitian national admitted under the Biden parole program highlights the ongoing issue. Additionally, sanctuary city policies continue to provide protection to foreign-born criminals rather than safeguarding law-abiding, tax-paying citizens.”
Alvarez entered the US at JFK airport in 2023 as part of President Biden’s parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans (CHNV). He had no known criminal history when he entered the country.
Alvarez’s arrest in March led to Rep. Jim Jordan leading an inquiry into the CHNV program.