Sen. Robert Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, told MSNBC’s Tamron Hall on NewsNation that allegations that an unpaid intern working in his office had been arrested for entering the country illegally were true. The 18-year-old from Peru was also a registered sex offender.
DETAILS: Bush Speaks After Four Years, Takes Stance On Immigration
Luis Abrahan Sanchez Zavaleta was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in front of his home in New Jersey on Dec. 6. The Homeland Security Department instructed federal agents not to arrest him until after Election Day, according to the Associated Press.
Menendez said he knew nothing about that allegation and did not learn of the arrest until just before appearing on MSNBC Tuesday. He said his staff learned of the arrest Monday.
Sanchez, who entered the country on a now-expired visitor visa from Peru, is facing deportation and remains in custody, the officials told the AP. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of Sanchez’s immigration case.
A spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to an AP request for further details.
Menendez, who advocates aggressively for pro-immigration policies, was re-elected in November with 58 percent of the vote. Sanchez told ICE agents that he worked on immigration issues for the senator, according to AP. A spokesman for Menendez told the AP she was looking into the matter.
DETAILS: Barack Obama’s Uncle Wins New Deportation Hearing
Ironic, eh? It’s not clear whether Sanchez has an attorney as of yet, or if this will do anything to Menendez’s reputation.
SOURCE: NBC
