ICE Boston will try to deport migrant who allegedly raped woman and threatened to report her to ICE

Rick Sobey, Boston Herald on Jul 10, 2025

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BOSTON — ICE Boston says the feds will try to deport the illegal immigrant accused of raping a woman at knifepoint and then threatening to report her to ICE if she contacted police.

Chelsea man Alfredo Romero-Argentina, aka Alfredo Romero-Cortez, 48, was recently arrested after allegedly assaulting and raping a 35-year-old woman on July 4.

The Salvadoran national was charged with aggravated rape, assault and battery on a household member, assault with a dangerous weapon, and intimidating a witness.

“ICE has lodged an immigration detainer against Romero with the Suffolk County Jail, where he is currently detained,” an ICE Boston spokesperson said in a statement. “ICE will seek to deport Romero following his criminal proceedings.”

Border Patrol arrested Romero in July of 2005 after he illegally entered the U.S.

He was served with a notice to appear before a Justice Department immigration judge. Later that day, Border Patrol released Romero from custody on an order of recognizance.

Then in February of 2006, an immigration judge at the DOJ Executive Office for Immigration Review ordered Romero to be deported to El Salvador.

“Romero was ordered removed from the United States in 2006; however, he failed to depart as ordered,” the ICE Boston spokesperson said.

During Romero’s recent arraignment for the alleged rape, a Suffolk County judge ordered him held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing next week.

Chelsea Police responded Saturday afternoon to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Police officers spoke to the 35-year-old alleged victim who told them she had been assaulted and raped by Romero on July 4.

She told police that she and Romero were about to have consensual sex when Romero reportedly became angry because she said he needed to wear a condom.

“The victim said Romero-Cortez slapped her three times in the face, pulled her by her arm, and then produced a cream-colored pocketknife,” according to the Suffolk DA’s office. “She said Romero-Cortez told her she ‘better do what he says’ while threatening her with the knife. She told police Romero-Cortez then raped her.”

She told police that she wanted to report the assault, but that Romero allegedly told her he would report her to ICE if she did.

She said she feared being separated from her young daughter, so she did not contact police. She then left Romero’s Hooper Street apartment.

The next morning, she went to work but left early because she didn’t feel well. She went to the hospital for treatment, and told a nurse about the incident.

The hospital then contacted Chelsea Police.

“The facts here are troubling on numerous levels, certainly with the physical harm the victim suffered in the assault along with her reluctance to report because of the threats about ICE and her fear of separation from her child,” Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden said in a statement earlier this week. “This is the type of combined anguish no one should have to experience.”