Elfego Morales Soto/Mexico/Domestic Violence, Assault

Federal immigration agents arrested Elfego Morales Soto, a Mexico national an illegal migrant, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on charges of domestic violence, assault.

An assault arrest involving an illegal alien typically triggers two separate legal processes. The state criminal case will be handled by local prosecutors and, if Soto is convicted, could result in jail time and other penalties under state law. Separately, federal immigration enforcement has initiated a removal proceeding in immigration court — a process that moves forward on its own schedule, independent of the criminal case. Both are now underway, and the outcome of one will not determine the outcome of the other.

Following the arrest, Soto was transferred to federal immigration detention. Removal proceedings before a Department of Justice immigration judge are pending, with Mexico as the country of removal.