ICE Detains Mexican National Accused of Impregnating 11-Year-Old Girl

Luis Armando Argueta Montejo, a 43-year-old Mexican national, was arrested by Oconee County Sheriff's Office in South Carolina after evidence linked him to the sexual assault of a female minor, believed to be between 11 and 14 years old. The victim was discovered giving birth in the parking lot of Oconee Memorial Hospital days before Montejo's arrest. DHS confirmed DNA evidence indicated Montejo had sexual intercourse with the girl.[1] Montejo faces charges of incest and three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a child. He told ICE agents he first entered the United States illegally in 2006 and has no prior criminal record. On April 17, ICE issued a detainer to ensure his transfer to federal custody following local proceedings.[1] "This sicko should NEVER have been in our country to prey on children in the first place," Acting Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement. "He now faces charges for incest and multiple child sex crimes." The incident has fueled criticism of immigration policies allowing long-term presence without detection.[1] Similar cases underscore patterns in ICE enforcement. In Maryland, ICE arrested Salvadoran citizen Luis Portillo-Henriquez, 39, convicted of sexually abusing a 14-year-old relative; a judge reduced his 25-year sentence to 18 months before his immigration detention.[2] In Massachusetts, Guatemalan national Jose Fernando Perez, 49, faces six counts of child rape from 2022 and remains in ICE custody awaiting a June trial.[3] A Guatemalan national, Ander Cortez Mendez, 21, was arrested by ICE in Falls Church, Virginia, on April 2 after a Fairfax County conviction for sex with a child, receiving a three-month suspended sentence. Local officials ignored an ICE detainer, releasing him until agents apprehended him on the street. He had entered illegally near the Rio Grande Valley in 2018 and skipped an immigration hearing.[4] These detentions reflect ICE's focus on public safety threats, with officials emphasizing removal of individuals charged or convicted of serious crimes. Oconee County authorities continue investigating Montejo's case as federal proceedings loom.[1]