An illegal immigrant working as a farm laborer in Southern California has been arrested after facing multiple serious criminal charges, including rape and sodomy of a drug victim, U.S. border authorities said.The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) El Centro Division said the Mexican citizen was arrested by its agents while working in Thermal, a farming community in Riverside County, California. The agency did not identify the man but shared his photo on social media.The man was previously charged with rape and sodomy of a drug victim, assault with a deadly weapon and preventing or dissuading a witness or victim, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.“Our agents at the Indio Station arrested an illegal immigrant from Mexico who was working as an agricultural worker in Temore, California,” the agency posted on Instagram.Hot Springs is located about 25 miles southeast of Palm Springs in the Coachella Valley and is home to several agricultural operations, including farms that produce dates and specialty crops.The arrest prompted mixed reactions online, with some users praising authorities and others commenting on the suspect’s appearance.Immigration enforcement remains a contentious issue in the Coachella Valley. Earlier this year, local lawmakers and immigrant rights advocates criticized federal enforcement actions in the area, saying they disrupted homes and businesses.Congressman Raul Ruiz described the situation as a “public health crisis,” saying parents were detained, businesses lost workers and families were struggling to locate detained relatives.The arrest comes days after another immigration-related case involving an Indian national. Deepak Kumar, a 31-year-old Indian citizen from Fresno, California, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after Pennsylvania authorities accused him of transporting nearly $3 million worth of stolen tungsten oxide powder.According to the New York Post, investigators tracked a truck carrying 10 pallets of tungsten oxide powder worth approximately $2.86 million after Mitsubishi Materials reported the cargo missing.Authorities said Kumar allegedly produced an invalid work visa, a counterfeit New York driver’s license and a valid California driver’s license when stopped by police.He was arrested on theft-related charges and then transferred to an ICE detention facility in California. Investigators say the industrial material is used in products such as armor-piercing ammunition, ceramics, lasers, optical equipment and specialized window coatings.
