Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is requesting that a Romanian immigrant convicted of sexually abusing a middle-school boy be deported after she was released early from jail. Rebeca Fratila-Ilies remains in police custody following an ICE detainer request, issued after North Carolina authorities notified the federal agency of her arrest as a sexual predator.
Background of the Case
Fratila-Ilies was sentenced to 10 years in prison for child sex crimes in Virginia in December 2022, but she was released early. Upon release, she moved to North Carolina. Details regarding the nature of the crimes against the boy have not been disclosed.
The Guilford County Sheriff's Office arrested her on March 12 for violating her probation, though the violation charge was later dismissed. ICE subsequently requested that the Romanian national be held in custody pending deportation proceedings.
Immigration History
Fratila-Ilies came to the United States as a child with her mother and received a green card in 2006. However, the green card was later deemed invalid after it was discovered that her mother had filed a fraudulent benefits case, according to ICE.
She was originally scheduled for deportation in 2017 after failing to appear for an immigration hearing but later appealed the decision. A judge permitted her to stay in 2022, shortly before her conviction.
ICE Statement
ICE Director Todd M. Lyon stated, "She’s been convicted of sex crimes against a child, which means she’s amenable to removal." Although she was a lawful resident, her crimes make her eligible for deportation, he added.
The Daily Mail has contacted Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, for further comment.
