DHS said it filed an ICE detainer after the arrest of 20‑year‑old Enrique Bautista‑Vasquez, accused of raping a 14‑year‑old autistic girl on Dec. 31. Authorities reported finding women's boots, bloodstained sheets and fraudulent identity documents at or near the suspect’s residence. Bautista‑Vasquez faces charges including rape and lewd and lascivious acts with a minor; he has a prior federal removal order and was reported to have returned to the U.S. in early January. The detainer highlights tensions between federal immigration enforcement and California sanctuary policies; DHS provided the VOICE hotline (1‑855‑488‑6423) for victims.
DHS Lodges ICE Detainer After Alleged Rape Of Autistic 14‑Year‑Old; Case Tests California Sanctuary Policies
DHS calls rape of autistic teen ‘most heinous we’ve seen’ as ICE detainer tests California sanctuary laws
The Department of Homeland Security said it filed an ICE detainer in California after the arrest of 20-year-old Enrique Bautista‑Vasquez, who is accused of raping a 14‑year‑old girl with autism. DHS officials described the alleged crime as among the most serious they have encountered and said the case will test whether California authorities will honor federal detainer requests under sanctuary policies.
Details Of The Allegations
According to local investigators and DHS, the incident occurred on Dec. 31. Authorities say the victim, a 14‑year‑old girl who reportedly has a tendency to wander because of her autism, encountered Bautista‑Vasquez on a small college campus. Investigators allege he persuaded her to follow him through a nearby business park and then to his residence in Cathedral City.
Evidence And Charges
Local police told regional media and DHS that at the suspect's home the girl was allegedly sexually assaulted, including sodomy and vaginal intercourse. Officers later searched Bautista‑Vasquez’s residence and reported finding women's boots and bloodstained bedsheets. Investigators also recovered a stolen Texas Social Security card and a federal permanent residency card determined to be fraudulent.
Enrique Bautista-Vasquez, right, was arrested in Riverside County, Calif., after authorities say he sexually assaulted a minor.(Getty Images)
Riverside County charged Bautista‑Vasquez with rape and lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, along with sentencing enhancements for sexual assault of a person unable to consent and for a particularly vulnerable victim. He is being held in custody in Indio, California.
Immigration Background And Detainer
DHS said Bautista‑Vasquez has a federal final order of removal dated Dec. 16, 2024, and that he returned to the United States on Jan. 2, 2025. The department lodged a detainer request with Sacramento authorities, urging local officials to hold the suspect for potential federal immigration custody.
"This depraved illegal alien raped and sodomized a child with autism," Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, adding that ICE lodged the detainer quickly to prevent the suspect's release into the community. McLaughlin also criticized California sanctuary policies, saying some jurisdictions have released violent noncitizens who later committed additional crimes.
Public‑Safety And Support Resources
DHS noted that people seeking support related to crimes by noncitizens can contact the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office at 1‑855‑488‑6423. Fox News Digital contacted Governor Gavin Newsom’s office for comment on whether California authorities will honor the detainer; a response was not included in initial reports.
This case has drawn attention because it combines a violent alleged crime with a contested immigration custody request, putting sanctuary policy and public‑safety concerns at the center of a high‑profile criminal matter.
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