ICE Boston arrests Honduran national charged in Fall River with rape, kidnapping a minor, and other charges

A recent operation held by ICE Boston in Massachusetts involved a Fall River suspect that they described as one of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens who were arrested and then released into Massachusetts communities because of what they called sanctuary policies.

According to Homeland Security, Denis Javier Aguirre Murillo, a 37-year-old illegal alien from Honduras, whose most recent arrest in Fall River was for rape, indecent assault and battery on person 14 or older, witness intimidation, and kidnapping a minor by relative, was arrested by ICE in May.

Murillo also has several other arrests in Massachusetts including lewd and lascivious conduct, sexual conduct for fee, and multiple convictions for operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

Homeland Security stated that on February 19, 2025, the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office did not honor his ICE detainer, and he was released.

Massachusetts sheriffs say under state law, they don’t have the power to hold an inmate with a detainer until the feds come to pick them up.

Fall River Reporter contacted Sheriff Paul Heroux, and he issued the following statement:

“The BCSO follows all state and federal laws and obligations. The BCSO cooperates with ICE everyday by sending ICE lists of new inmates every day. Upon viewing the daily lists, ICE indicates they would like an ICE detainer on certain inmates. Of the 700 inmates the BCSO has in its custody, 10 (ten) inmates have ICE detainers.

“Concerning the 6/6/2025 press release from DHS indicating that the BCSO did not honor an ICE detainer. I categorically reject this characterization and am disappointed that ICE would describe the events of 2/18/2025 in this manner.

“The fact is that the BCSO notified ICE of our inmate in question was in the process of posting bail. ICE informed us that an ICE agent was on her way to our jail in Dartmouth to pick the ICE detainee. Unfortunately, ICE did not arrive at our jail in time, and we were obligated under state law to release this inmate since he posted bail. (NOTE: The BCSO has provided official documents from 2/18/2025 to verify our claims that we acted in accordance with state and federal laws notifying ICE of the pending release of this ICE detainee). It is also worth noting that this ICE agent acted in an unprofessional manner scolding BCSO employees on our own campus, unconcerned of our obligations under state law.

“All Sheriffs and Police Departments throughout the state are bound by state law. We have informed ICE that we are bound by state law, and we must release all persons who post bail. ICE knows we are bound by state law. The specific law in question here is the Lunn vs. Commonwealth of MA (2017) Supreme Judicial Court decision, which states that sheriffs and police cannot hold an inmate beyond when a court states the inmate is to be released or after they post bail. Consistent with this understanding, Trump appointed US Attorney Foley told all Mass Sheriffs at a meeting in March that sheriffs are “bound by state law.”

If citizens are concerned about Sheriffs’ obligation under state law to release ICE detainees after they post bail or after the end of a sentence, citizens should contact their state representative or state senator to advocate for that law to be changed.“