An ICE detainer was issued in Phoenix after a 10-year-old student at Orangewood Elementary School was sexually assaulted, highlighting a significant failure in public safety measures. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement identified Abel Kai Gblah, a criminal alien from Liberia and registered sex offender, as connected to the assault.
“This case is a clear and unacceptable failure,” said Representative John Gillette. “A registered sex offender should never have been free to assault a child in an Arizona school.” He emphasized the role of federal enforcement when local systems fail to prevent such offenders from causing harm.
Gillette further commented on the necessity of ICE’s intervention to prevent further incidents and ensure removal under federal law. “There is no excuse, no gray area, and no room for obstruction,” he said. “Public safety is not negotiable, and cooperation with ICE in cases involving violent crime and sexual offenses against minors must be immediate and absolute.”
Arizona State Rep. John Gillette (R-Parker), who was elected to the Arizona State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 30th House District, reiterated that public safety should be prioritized by local officials cooperating fully with ICE efforts.
