WALTHAM, Mass. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have arrested Gedion Masunsu, a 28-year-old illegal immigrant from Uganda, on charges of assaulting a pregnant woman and damaging property in Massachusetts, officials confirmed.
Masunsu was seeking refuge in the Massachusetts sanctuary state.
Key Points
- Gedion Masunsu was arrested by ICE after local release despite detainer for assault on a pregnant woman.
- Masunsu entered the U.S. in 2021 with an expired visa and was paroled after expedited removal order.
- ICE criticized Waltham District Court for failing to honor federal immigration detainer.
Masunsu was taken into ICE custody following his release from local law enforcement, despite a federal immigration detainer issued earlier. He had been charged Jan. 6 in Waltham with two counts of assault and battery on a pregnant victim, along with one count of destruction of property.
“Not only is Gedion Masunsu in this country illegally, he savagely assaulted a pregnant Massachusetts resident, endangering the victim and her unborn child,” said Patricia H. Hyde, acting Field Office Director for ICE’s Boston Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Masunsu initially entered the U.S. on April 14, 2021, at Boston Logan International Airport, attempting to use an expired visa. U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued him an expedited removal order at that time but paroled him into the country.
After his January arrest, ICE lodged a detainer with the Waltham District Court, requesting that Masunsu be held for federal authorities. The court did not honor the detainer, and he was released.
Following his release, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted an arrest operation and took Masunsu into custody. He remains in ICE detention pending removal proceedings.
Masunsu now faces immigration enforcement actions in addition to the pending criminal charges filed by local authorities.