Rape Suspect In Country Illegally Arrested On Cape Cod

BOURNE, MA – A rape suspect in the United States illegally was arrested last week as part of a new cooperation program between the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Antonio Ferreira, a Brazilian national, now awaits trial on an active warrant for rape, assault and battery and soliciting a felony, according to the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities do not know where and when Ferreira first entered the United States, but 13 years ago he was served an Immigration Department Notice to Appear and ordered removed from the country 17 months later. It is unknown when he returned to the United States.

"This cooperative program is officially off to a good start. The end result will never change," James Cummings, Barnstable County sheriff, said in a statement. "It will make our county and our country a safer place. If that means doing it one case at a time, so be it. This is exactly why we wanted to be involved in this program. So individuals like this would not be released to the community in Barnstable County."

Ferreira will be processed by Barnstable County's new field office and the ICE field office in Boston. This will include a Warrant of Arrest, an I-871 Notice of Intent and a decision to Reinstate Prior Order. Removal from the country will be as prescribed by Section 241(a)5 of the Immigration and Naturalization Act.

Rebecca Adducci, interim field director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston, said in a statement that she values cooperation from law enforcement partners like the Barnstable County Sheriff because "it allows for the removal of dangerous criminal illegal aliens like Ferreira" and the efforts "help to make communities throughout the Commonwealth safer every day."

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