Marvin Perez Lopez is arrested for kidnapping and raping an 11-year-old girl weeks after crossing the border illegally and is given an immigration court date in 2027

An undocumented immigrant who illegally crossed the Mexican border into the United States was arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl.

Marvin Perez Lopez, 20, was arrested Saturday by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office after he allegedly kidnapped and sexually abused a minor under the age of 13.

Lopez, who confessed to the crimes, arrived in the United States from his native Guatemala in January.

After being apprehended by Border Patrol, he was released pending an immigration court date approximately three years in the future – in 2027.

Lopez made it to Florida in January of this year, where he allegedly committed his heinous crimes on a teenage girl in the sixth grade.

The kidnapping occurred in a residential area of ​​Lake Worth Beach, south of West Palm Beach.

Lopez allegedly raped the girl in a van that was parked in front of her family’s home.

Incredibly, the girl’s mother hit the side of the van her daughter was being held in and she managed to escape.

Lopez then ran out of the van, saying he was sorry and asking for forgiveness.

The affidavit states that the child and Lopez live in the same residence.

The mother did not initially call the police because she feared her own immigration status would be questioned. She had also experienced an incident before when her daughter was taken away from her by the authorities.

The 11-year-old girl told investigators how Lopez grabbed her hand and told her to “get in the van.”

She explained how he began touching her and that she pushed Lopez away and was able to get out of the van, only for him to pull her back into the vehicle.

The girl then described to investigators how Lopez had sexually abused her.

Police then went to Lopez’s apartment to question him, but he escaped through a window in the back of the house.

Lopez’s sister-in-law now seemed to know what he had done.

“It was 9 o’clock at night and the mother came to my house and said something happened with her daughter and Marvin,” Hermencie Vasquez told WPTV. “I asked Marvin what he would do if she got pregnant and whether he would be responsible for it, and he said yes, he would be responsible for the child.”

Lopez is currently being held without bail at the Palm Beach Country Jail. According to the police, he has admitted the allegations against him.

It was employees of the Guatemalan Maya Center who alerted the police to the sexual assault.

“Our work in the community has been worth it because we have a good relationship with this center,” said Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.

“We have a lot of people here in Palm Beach County who may or may not be illegal and they are becoming victims.” You shouldn’t be afraid to call us. We will not call the Border Patrol if it is a victim and no crime has been committed. We will help them.

“Before he (Lopez) even remotely thinks about being deported, he will spend his time here first,” Bradshaw said.

Lopez had traveled from Guatemala to Florida, where he allegedly committed his heinous crimes against a teenager

When migrants cross the U.S. border, they are assigned a hearing date to explain to an immigration judge why they should not be deported.

The hearing is often scheduled years in advance.

Immigrants are issued a Notice to Appear upon entry, but the document must also be filed with the court by the Department of Homeland Security.

“They know they’re going to get a hearing date many years from now, and in that time they can, for example, get a driver’s license just with that hearing notice,” immigration attorney Richard Hujber told WPTV.

“If they apply for asylum, they can also get a work permit, and no one pays attention to whether they have a legitimate, valid asylum application.”

When migrants cross the U.S. border, they are assigned a hearing date to explain to an immigration judge why they should not be deported (April 2023 file photo)

Otherwise the hearing cannot continue and no decision can be made.

This incident comes just months after three undocumented immigrants from Guatemala were accused of forcing a woman into a car and sexually assaulting her at two locations in Palm Beach County.

All three suspects, 29-year-old Andres Felipe Morales, 30-year-old Darinel Ordonez Jjimenez and 31-year-old Marcos Felipe Ramirez, were arrested and taken to the Palm Beach County Jail.

Morales has been charged with sexual assault and false imprisonment, while the other two are being held on two counts of criminal conspiracy.