U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged an immigration detainer against a Mexican national following his arrest in Indiana on charges including attempted rape and sexual misconduct with a minor.
Javier Cereque-Perez was taken into custody in Indianapolis on July 6 during a joint operation conducted by ICE and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Following the arrest, federal agents transferred Cereque-Perez to the Fishers Police Department.
The arrest stems from an incident alleged to have occurred in August 2024 near Fishers, Indiana. According to local reporting, an arrest warrant was issued in December 2024 after an underage victim reported to police that Cereque-Perez inappropriately touched her, attempted to remove her clothing, and attempted to rape her inside a vehicle.
Cereque-Perez faces four criminal counts: two counts of attempted rape, one count of sexual misconduct with a minor, and one count of sexual battery.
Authorities stated that Cereque-Perez entered the United States unlawfully at an unknown date and location. He is currently being held at the Hamilton County Jail, where ICE officials have placed a detainer requesting that local authorities notify federal law enforcement prior to his release.
“This illegal alien is charged with attempted rape, sexual misconduct with a child, and sexual battery after he allegedly tried to rape a child in 2024,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis in a statement. “Thanks to our law enforcement partners at the federal and local levels, he will now face justice for his crimes. ICE has lodged a detainer asking officials in Indiana to turn him over to ICE custody so that he can be removed from our country, and can never prey on another innocent child again.”
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