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DHS Asks Kentucky Not to Release Criminal Illegal Alien from Jail who Sexually Assaulted a Girl While Working as a Pastor

Release Date: April 7, 2026
This criminal illegal alien was previously arrested and RELEASED

WASHINGTON – Today, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that it has lodged a detainer asking Kentucky not to release a criminal illegal alien from jail who was most recently arrested for sexually assaulting a teenager in his church office. He has prior arrests for theft, forgery, and reckless and careless driving.

According to local reports, Jose Lopez-Hernandez, 52, lured the 14-year-old girl to his church office. He locked the door and aggressively kissed and touched the girl. Witnesses told police the girl had a bruise on her neck consistent with "aggressive kissing.”

He was convicted of sexual abuse and will also be required to register as a sex offender for a period of 20 years.

This enforcement action comes after Kentucky’s Governor, Andy Beshear, has made it his focus to demonize and smear ICE agents across the Blue Grass State. In February, Beshear called for “ every ICE agent to be withdrawn from every city and every community that they're in.” If that were to happen, more evildoers like Lopez would be allowed to wreak havoc on American streets and prey upon innocent children.

“This sicko used his position as a pastor to lure a young girl to his office and sexually assault her. ICE law enforcement lodged a detainer asking Kentucky not to release this sexual predator from jail to prey on more innocent children,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “This criminal was previously released despite multiple criminal arrests. These are the types of heinous criminals ICE is targeting every single day. Instead of demonizing our ICE officers and protecting criminals, Governor Beshear needs to work with our law enforcement to get these criminal illegal aliens out of our country.”

Every day, DHS is conducting law enforcement activities across the country to keep Americans safe. ICE continues to target criminal illegal aliens including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and more. Nearly 70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S.

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  Last Updated: 04/07/2026 Was this page helpful? Yes No This page was not helpful because the content has too little information has too much information is confusing is out-of-date
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