Uzbek national arrested in New York on sex crimes charges

U.D., a 21-year-old Uzbek national living in New York City, has been arrested by federal agents on multiple felony sex crimes charges, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported in a statement.

According to the release, U.D.'s charges include rape (sexual intercourse without consent), sexual assault, attempted assault with intent to cause bodily harm, and other forms of sexual assault committed without the victim's consent.

“ICE prioritizes the arrest and deportation of criminal immigrants who pose a threat to public safety, especially those who have committed serious crimes in New York. Fortunately, with the cooperation of the FBI, we were able to quickly arrest U.D. after he was released by local authorities,” said William Joyce, ICE’s New York Office Director.

U.D. was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol on December 28, 2022, near Lukeville, Arizona, while illegally entering the United States from Mexico. He was placed on deportation proceedings, and on July 28, 2023, an immigration judge issued an order to remove him from the United States.

On February 19, 2024, ICE’s New York office filed a petition with the courts to detain U.D. as a criminally charged illegal immigrant. However, the following day, the Queens Central Detention Center rejected the request and released him.

ICE and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents arrested U.D. during a special raid on Staten Island and transported him to an ICE office. He is currently being held in ICE custody.

It should be noted that an Uzbek citizen previously convicted of trafficking children for sexual exploitation was deported from the United States.