U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a formal request to Missouri authorities to maintain custody of a Honduran national accused of a violent assault on Easter Sunday.
Cristian Lopez-Gomez faces felony charges of rape and kidnapping following an incident in Kirksville where he allegedly restrained and sexually assaulted a woman.
Official records indicate that Lopez-Gomez entered the United States illegally in April 2024 and was subsequently released into the country.
While he has no prior criminal record within the U.S., his recent arrest has prompted federal authorities to lodge a detainer—a legal request for local jailers to notify ICE before an inmate is released so that federal agents can take them into custody for deportation proceedings.
Currently, Lopez-Gomez is being held at the Adair County Jail. The case has drawn sharp criticism from federal officials regarding border enforcement and public safety. Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis issued a blunt statement following the arrest, noting the timing and severity of the alleged crimes.
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“This animal kidnapped and raped a woman in Missouri on Easter Sunday,” Bis said. “This sexual predator was RELEASED into our country by the Biden administration in 2024. ICE lodged an arrest detainer requesting Missouri not release this monster back into our communities to rape and assault more innocent women.”
Bis expressed gratitude that Missouri officials typically cooperate with federal immigration requests, unlike some “sanctuary” jurisdictions. She emphasized that such collaboration is vital for removing criminal aliens from the country.
“When state and local law enforcement work with ICE, we can safely remove criminal illegal aliens from our country and put the safety of American citizens first,” she added.
Adair County authorities have not yet announced a trial date, but the detainer ensures that even if Lopez-Gomez posts bond or completes a potential sentence, he will be handed over to ICE for removal from the United States.
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