U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) informed Newsweek about plans to pursue the removal of a Massachusetts high school teacher accused of multiple child rape charges. This follows ICE lodging an immigration detainer after his arrest.
ICE submitted the detainer request to the Lowell Police Department on July 22 for 54-year-old Patrick Akpore Nsumei. He faces charges including aggravated rape of a child, rape of a child with force, and indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.
A detainer allows federal immigration officials to request local law enforcement to notify them before releasing an individual or hold them temporarily to enable ICE custody transfer.
“ICE will assume custody pending the completion of his state-level criminal proceedings,” remarked an ICE spokesperson to Newsweek. The spokesperson further emphasized, “Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, we are committed to removing criminal illegal aliens, particularly those involved in violent and serious offenses, from our communities.”
Attempts to reach Boston Public Schools and Nsumei’s attorney for comments on the situation have been made by Newsweek.
Nsumei is currently detained without bail at the Billerica House of Correction. The decision followed Judge John Coffey of Lowell District Court’s ruling on July 31, where Nsumei was deemed a public safety threat during a dangerousness hearing. He is to remain held for up to 120 days as the case continues.
Prosecutor Sheehan McCarthy revealed that the alleged victim reported the abuse to Lowell police on June 27. The prosecutors assert that abuse happened repeatedly from 2017 to 2021, arguing that Nsumei poses a community threat.
Nsumei’s defense attorney, Thomas Mixon, contested the accusations, pointing to a lack of physical evidence, as noted by The Boston Herald.
The Boston Herald also reported that Nsumei served as a science teacher at a Boston public high school. However, his name and photo have since been removed from the school’s staff webpage as of Sunday.
The allegations do not involve a student from Boston Public Schools; the alleged victim is not linked to the district according to The Boston Herald. The district has yet to disclose if Nsumei is still employed or is on leave.
The charge of aggravated rape of a child could result in a life sentence, with parole eligibility after 10 years. Nsumei’s next court appearance is set for a probable cause hearing on September 1, notes The Boston Herald.
This case arises amid ICE’s broader focus on arrests, convictions, and criminal accusations involving migrants, with the agency aiming to highlight serious cases involving violent and sexual crimes as part of their public safety mission.
For inquiries regarding this story, Newsweek editors Matthew Robinson and Robert Greenall can be contacted.