U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested an illegal Turkish national charged with raping a Massachusetts resident when officers with ICE Boston apprehended Bilal Karayigit, 26, in Burlington on February 19.
Karayigit lawfully entered the United States on July 12, 2022, at JFK International Airport in New York but later violated the terms of his lawful admission.
The Brighton District Court in Massachusetts arraigned Karayigit on December 5, 2023, for rape and indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 years of age. ICE lodged an immigration detainer later that day against Karayigit with the court.
The Brighton District Court ignored the detainer and released Karayigit from custody on April 24, 2024.
The Suffolk Superior Court in Boston arraigned Karayigit on June 11, 2024, for rape, indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 years of age, and kidnapping.
The Boston Police Department arrested Karayigit on September 19, 2024, on warrants stemming from his pending charges. ICE lodged an immigration detainer against Karayigit with the Nashua Street Jail in Boston later that day.
The jail ignored the immigration detainer and released Karayigit from custody on September 26, 2024.
ICE served Karayigit with a notice to appear before a Justice Department immigration judge after his arrest, and he remains in ICE custody.
