An armed safety guard at a Division of Homeland Safety constructing in New York City has been accused of sexually assaulting an asylum seeker.
Prosecutors mentioned on Monday that Jimmy Solano-Arias, 42, pressured the migrant to carry out oral intercourse on him on Could 4 on the Jacob Okay. Javits constructing at Federal Plaza in Manhattan.
The asylum seeker, a person whose identify and age haven’t been launched, was allegedly sexually assaulted after Solano-Arias ordered him right into a locked room inside the USA Tax Court docket Workplaces.
There are a number of authorities workplaces within the Jacob Okay. Javits constructing, together with the FBI and Citizenship and Immigration Companies.
Solano-Arias, from the Bronx, is accused of approaching the sufferer whereas he was ready in line on the constructing to file an utility for asylum.
A guard is accused of raping an asylum seeker within the the Jacob Okay. Javits constructing, which hosts a number of federal workplaces together with the FBI and Citizenship and Immigration Companies
An estimated 70,000 migrants have arrived in New York Metropolis over the past yr. A whole bunch are seen lining exterior the Jacob Okay. Javits constructing
The guard spoke in Spanish to the migrant, who didn’t converse English, and requested him why he was there and if he had any household with him, in response to investigators.
Solano-Arias then advised the person he might assist him along with his paperwork, and took him to an workplace on the twelfth ground, the place he waited.
As the person tried to go away after ready and receiving no assist, he encountered Solano-Arias on the best way to the elevators, and the guard requested him if he wanted any extra help, per the legal grievance.
When the asylum seeker mentioned sure, Solano-Arias allegedly took him to the second ground, the place he used a key to unlock an workplace throughout the U.S. Tax Court docket Workplaces, and directed him inside, the place Solano-Arias ordered him to carry out oral intercourse on him.
The sufferer mentioned he tried to refuse, however turned afraid for his life after noticing the guard’s hand on his gun.
After the assault, Solano-Arias requested the sufferer to attend till the hallway was clear till leaving the workplace, and the migrant managed to get a video recording of the guard on his cellphone, in response to police.
When one other guard seen them and requested the asylum seeker what he was doing on that ground, Solano-Arias proceeded to scold the sufferer for being within the space of the constructing he had led him to, per the grievance.
U.S. Legal professional for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams mentioned Jimmy Solano-Arias used to reap the benefits of a weak particular person
Damian Williams, U.S. Legal professional for the Southern District of New York, mentioned the guard ‘was tasked with maintaining the various federal staff and guests to 26 Federal Plaza secure, [but] as an alternative used his uniform and firearm to pressure a weak particular person who was searching for asylum to carry out oral intercourse on him.’
Solano-Arias was arrested and fired a day after the alleged sexual assault when the sufferer reported him. He was employed by an organization that supplied safety to the federal constructing.
In a video-recorded interview, he reportedly admitted that the migrant carried out oral intercourse on him however claimed it was consensual.
He’s charged with one rely of deprivation of rights below colour of legislation, involving kidnapping and aggravated sexual abuse, that means he acted exterior the legislation whereas purporting or pretending to behave within the efficiency of his official duties.
The cost carries a possible penalty of a most sentence of life in jail.
The allegations towards Solano-Arias come as New York Metropolis continues to battle with an inflow of migrants, largely from South America.
An estimated 70,000 migrants have arrived in New York Metropolis over the past yr, as Republican governors across the nation like Florida’s Ron DeSantis have despatched buses filled with asylum seekers.
On Monday, mayor Eric Adams introduced that mosques, church buildings, and different homes of worship can be serving to within the metropolis’s efforts to offer shelter to migrants.
Adams mentioned when the church-based program is absolutely operational, they hope to have the ability to host as much as 1,000 asylum seekers at a time.
