ICE Arrests Dominican National Convicted of Sexual Assault in Pennsylvania
Federal immigration authorities have arrested a Dominican national in Pennsylvania following his conviction for a sex crime in Centre County.
Manuel De Jesus Severino-Brito, identified by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as an illegally present foreign national from the Dominican Republic, was taken into custody by Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers. The arrest stems from his conviction for sexual assault in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
Federal Immigration Enforcement Actions
The apprehension of Severino-Brito is part of a broader interior enforcement operation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) targeting noncitizens with criminal records. On January 29, 2026, DHS announced the arrests of multiple foreign nationals across the United States, including individuals convicted of aggravated child rape, robbery, and other violent offenses.
ERO, the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement, prioritizes the arrest and removal of noncitizens who pose a threat to national security, public safety, or border security.
Local Conviction and Legal Context
Bellefonte, the county seat of Centre County, is where Severino-Brito’s criminal case was adjudicated. While specific details regarding the length of his sentence or the exact date of the incident were not immediately itemized in the federal release, the conviction for sexual assault places him within a priority category for deportation under federal immigration law.
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, noncitizens convicted of aggravated felonies—which can include certain sexual offenses—are generally subject to mandatory detention and removal from the United States.
Jurisdictional Distinctions
It is common for local law enforcement agencies to handle the initial criminal prosecution of foreign nationals. Once a criminal case concludes with a conviction or when a detainer is honored, federal agents from ICE typically assume custody to initiate removal proceedings. This process is distinct from the criminal punishment served in state prisons; deportation proceedings are administrative in nature but are often expedited for individuals with violent criminal histories.
Critics of strict interior enforcement often argue for due process and the protection of immigrant communities, while proponents assert that removing noncitizens convicted of serious crimes is essential for public safety. In this instance, federal authorities have emphasized the severity of the sexual assault conviction as the primary driver for Severino-Brito’s arrest and pending removal.
dhs.gov
