U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Atlanta arrested a Mexican national convicted of first-degree rape in North Carolina.
Jose Del Angel-Salazar, 52, was taken into custody on August 18. According to federal authorities, Del Angel-Salazar was convicted in Guilford County, North Carolina, of first-degree rape and sentenced to 140 to 228 months in state prison. He is a criminal alien from Mexico who had been living unlawfully in the United States at the time of his arrest and conviction.
Court documents show that his crime involved a violent sexual assault classified as a Class B1 felony under North Carolina law, one of the state’s most serious criminal charges. The sentencing range of 140 to 228 months translates to roughly 12 to 19 years of incarceration. Such a lengthy term is reserved for offenders found guilty of the most severe forms of sexual violence, underscoring the gravity of Del Angel-Salazar’s actions.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed Del Angel-Salazar on its “Worst of the Worst” list, a designation identifying foreign nationals with significant felony convictions. The agency has stressed that individuals convicted of sexual violence are among its highest priorities for enforcement and removal operations.
Officials confirmed that Del Angel-Salazar will remain in custody pending immigration proceedings. Once those proceedings are complete, he will be removed from the United States.
The arrest reinforces the agency’s stated mission of targeting criminal aliens who present direct threats to communities. Del Angel-Salazar’s conviction and prison sentence, coupled with his unlawful presence in the country, made him a priority target for enforcement. His case stands as an example of how federal authorities continue to focus resources on removing individuals with serious and violent criminal records.
