An illegal alien convicted sex offender and documented gang member has been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after being discovered living inside a children’s daycare facility in California.
ICE officials confirmed that 51-year-old Ezequiel Cruz-Rodriguez, a Mexican national, was taken into custody this week in San Diego.
Cruz-Rodriguez had been deported from the United States on three separate occasions since the mid-1990s but had illegally reentered each time.
Authorities said Cruz-Rodriguez is a known member of the Logan Heights gang and has an extensive criminal history.
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His record includes convictions for sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, sexual battery, robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm, and driving under the influence.
ICE agents arrested him after learning he was residing at a residence that also operated as an in-home daycare.
The home is operated by his wife, who is reportedly an illegal alien protected from deportation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
A senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official issued a statement following the arrest, saying: “It is sickening to think that this pedophile criminal illegal alien was residing inside the home where a daycare operates and hiding out in a sanctuary city. Thanks to the brave work of our ICE law enforcement officers, this criminal illegal alien, convicted pedophile, and known Logan Heights gang member — will no longer be able to prey on children inside a daycare. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, sickos like this will not walk free in the U.S.”
BREAKING: DHS announces that yesterday, ICE arrested a 3x previously deported Mexican illegal alien convicted pedophile who was living in an at-home daycare in San Diego operated by his wife, a DACA recipient. DHS says Ezequiel Cruz-Rodriguez is also a confirmed gang member, &… pic.twitter.com/QWnHGEYG2O
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Court records and federal immigration documents show that Cruz-Rodriguez was first ordered removed in 1996 by a federal immigration judge and deported that same year. He illegally reentered the United States and was deported a second time in 2003.
After once again reentering the country unlawfully, he was deported for a third time in December 2012.
At some point following that deportation, Cruz-Rodriguez crossed back into the United States without detection, becoming what federal authorities classify as a “got-away.”
Officials have not said how long Cruz-Rodriguez had been living inside the daycare prior to his arrest, but they confirmed that he was taken into custody without incident.
ICE has not released the name of the daycare but confirmed that local law enforcement and child services were notified.
The arrest highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration authorities and sanctuary state policies in California, which limit cooperation with ICE enforcement actions.
Federal officials have repeatedly warned that such policies create opportunities for dangerous offenders to evade detection and continue residing in communities despite prior deportations.
Cruz-Rodriguez remains in ICE custody and is expected to face federal prosecution for illegal reentry following deportation, a felony offense that carries significant prison time before removal proceedings.
Officials said he will be referred for criminal charges prior to a fourth deportation.
The case has drawn attention due to the combination of Cruz-Rodriguez’s prior convictions, gang ties, and his residence inside a home operating as a daycare facility.
DHS officials stressed that children were not harmed inside the daycare but emphasized that his presence posed a serious risk to the safety of the community.
The investigation remains ongoing as ICE works with federal prosecutors in San Diego to pursue criminal charges in addition to removal proceedings.
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His wife should be arrested right alongside him. Perhaps she can not be deported because of DACA (which should be rescinded or overturned), but she clearly knew he was illegal and allowed him near the children. She aided and abetted a known criminal. At the very least, she should never be allowed to work with kids again.
California has become America’s sewer filled with criminals and illegals
His wife surely must have known of his criminal activities. Hopefully her day care will be shut down?
Deport DACA & their parents first.
All involved should be imprisoned for life
What person, in their right mind, would house a criminal like him. Oh Wait, It’s Kalifornia, where perverts and assorted criminals are “Protected” They whole state is a sewer, run by Pelosi’s Nephew. disgusting