Shem Onuko/Kenya/Sexual Assault

Shem Onuko, a Kenya national living in the country illegally, was taken into custody by ICE agents in Dallas, Texas, on charges of sexual assault.

Sexual assault charges are among the most serious in the criminal justice system, carrying potential for lengthy sentences and lifetime sex offender registration requirements. For illegal aliens, the case triggers two simultaneous legal processes — a criminal prosecution by local or state authorities, and a federal immigration removal proceeding on a separate timeline. Onuko faces consequences on two independent legal fronts simultaneously.

Onuko is currently in federal immigration custody awaiting a hearing before a Department of Justice immigration judge, which will determine whether removal to Kenya is ordered.