BOSTON — ICE agents in Boston arrested a Brazilian illegal immigrant this week who was previously convicted of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, the agency announced Friday.
Jocerlan De Souza Alves was taken into custody on March 3 by officers with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston, according to the agency's post on X.
On March 3, ICE Boston arrested Jocerlan De Souza Alves, a criminal undocumented immigrant from Brazil. Alves' criminal history includes convictions for indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. pic.twitter.com/1j5tWlqZZh— ICE Boston (@EROBoston) March 7, 2026
The arrest is the latest in a string of ICE operations in the Boston area targeting illegal immigrants with violent criminal histories, many of whom had been living freely in Massachusetts despite prior convictions.
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Jocerlan De Souza Alves (ICE)
ICE did not specify where in Massachusetts Alves was living at the time of his arrest or when he entered the country illegally. The agency also did not disclose the details of his prior conviction, including when it occurred or what sentence he received.
Under Massachusetts law, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 is a felony carrying up to 10 years in state prison for a first offense, with mandatory minimum sentences for repeat offenders.
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The arrest comes as the agency ramps up enforcement across the state, dragging convicted criminals out of communities that city and state officials have fought to shield from federal immigration enforcement.
Governor Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu have both positioned themselves as vocal opponents of ICE operations in the state, with Healey's office recently demanding transparency from the agency while refusing to share information with federal law enforcement.
ICE Boston has arrested multiple Brazilian nationals in recent months with convictions or charges involving crimes against children, a pattern that has fueled criticism of the state's sanctuary-style policies.
Alves is currently in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
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