A Boston court released an MS-13 gang member last week, despite his pending deportation order and multiple state firearm and drug charges, before federal immigration authorities arrested him again.

Luis Adolfo Guerra Perez, a 19-year-old illegal immigrant from Guatemala, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Jan. 22, according to Fox News.

🚨BREAKING —Last week, federal immigration authorities in Massachusetts arrested an MS-13 gang member who was already facing state gun charges and had been ordered for deportation before a Boston court released him.

Luis Adolfo Guerra Perez, a 19-year-old from Guatemala, was… pic.twitter.com/FGja8EW2jG

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“Luis Adolfo Guerra-Perez is an illegally present gang member, who has shown complete disregard for American laws,” said acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “He is a member of a violent street gang charged with illegally possessing a high-capacity firearm and drugs. We will not tolerate such offenders to threaten the residents of our New England neighborhoods.”

ICE stated that Guerra was first arrested on March 21, 2021, after illegally crossing the southern border. Border Patrol agents issued him a notice to appear before an immigration judge. He was released by federal authorities on May 8, 2021, and in October 2024, an immigration judge formally ordered his deportation.

On Jan. 3, Guerra appeared in East Boston District Court on several charges, including possession of a large-capacity firearm, possession of a Class D controlled substance, possession of a firearm without a permit, and possession of ammunition.

ICE lodged a detainer request for Guerra, but due to sanctuary city policies, the court disregarded it and ordered his release on Jan. 22, despite his gang affiliation and pending criminal charges.