U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Baltimore announced the arrest of a convicted violent sexual predator from Peru as part of its “Worst of the Worst” enforcement initiative.
According to ICE, on November 7, officers arrested Nilo Herrera-Sanchez, a Peruvian national previously convicted in Maryland for two violent sexual offenses. Court records indicate that Herrera-Sanchez was sentenced to 20 years in prison for second-degree rape and another 20 years for a separate second-degree sex offense in Rockville. Following his incarceration, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers took him into custody for immigration violations. His case was highlighted under ICE’s “Worst of the Worst” program, which targets noncitizens convicted of heinous crimes such as rape, murder, and child sexual abuse for removal from the United States.
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations reported that in fiscal year 2024, more than 2,700 noncitizens convicted of sexual crimes were arrested for removal, with most cases involving rape or sexual assault. The “Worst of the Worst” initiative prioritizes offenders who pose a continued public safety threat upon release from state or federal custody.
The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services recorded over 1,100 inmates serving sentences for sexual assault offenses in 2024. State data indicate that repeat and violent sexual offenders, especially those with multiple convictions, face enhanced federal immigration enforcement when noncitizen status is confirmed.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), founded in 2003 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security. It enforces immigration laws, investigates cross-border criminal activity, and removes individuals posing threats to national or community safety. The Baltimore Field Office oversees operations across Maryland and Delaware, coordinating with state and local agencies to identify and detain violent offenders under programs like “Operation Cross Check” and “Worst of the Worst.”