ICE Moves to Deport Boston Teacher Accused of Child Rape

A high school science teacher in Boston is facing serious criminal charges and could be deported from the United States. Patrick Akpore Nsumei, 54, has been charged with the rape of a child and other serious offenses. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, says it plans to seek his removal from the country.

ICE told the news outlet Newsweek that it filed what is called an immigration detainer with the Lowell Police Department on July 22. A detainer is a request that asks local police to hold a person so that ICE can take custody of them. ICE said it will take over custody of Nsumei while his criminal case continues in state court.

Nsumei is currently being held in jail without bail at the Billerica House of Correction in Massachusetts. A judge ruled on July 31 that he was too dangerous to be released into the community. He was ordered to stay in jail for up to 120 days while his case moves through the courts.

Prosecutors say the alleged victim first reported the abuse to Lowell police on June 27. They claim the abuse happened repeatedly between 2017 and 2021. Prosecutors argued that Nsumei is a danger to the public and should not be let out of jail.

Nsumei's attorney, Thomas Mixon, disagreed with the charges. He argued that there is no physical evidence to back up the allegations against his client. The case is scheduled to return to court on September 1 for a probable cause hearing.

The Boston Herald reported that Nsumei worked as a science teacher at a Boston public high school. As of recently, his name and photo were removed from the school's staff webpage. The alleged victim is not a student in the Boston Public Schools district, according to reports.

The school district has not said publicly whether Nsumei still has his job or has been placed on leave. The most serious charge he faces — aggravated rape of a child — carries a possible sentence of life in prison. However, a person convicted of that charge could be eligible for parole after serving 10 years.

ICE has been highlighting cases like this one as part of the Trump administration's push to deport people it considers dangerous. Agency officials have repeatedly said they are focused on what they call 'the worst of the worst.' They point to cases involving serious violent and sexual crime charges as proof that their work protects public safety.