3 Illegal Immigrants Arrested After Toddler Found in Horrific State Dies

Three undocumented immigrants from Portugal, along with a man they were residing with, are facing charges related to the death of a 1-year-old boy in Rhode Island, as per a press release.

Deportation officers detained the three women, aged 32, 25, and 22, on immigration charges in Pawtucket on Feb. 17, as confirmed by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Initially, the Pawtucket Police Department arrested them on Feb. 11 when responding to the residence where the women were living, along with a man believed to be the child's father. The officers discovered the child, identified as Santiago, unresponsive with facial bruising.

According to ICE, the child was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons remarked, "The alleged crimes of these unlawfully present individuals resulted in the death of an innocent child. Those who commit crimes against children must be held accountable. Unlawfully present foreign nationals posing a danger to our New England communities cannot expect to escape the consequences of their actions."

A report by Boston.com identified the three undocumented women as 22-year-old Carolina Ledo, 25-year-old Daniela Ledo, and 32-year-old Carla Sousa. The man was identified as Joao Resendes, 25.

The Boston Globe stated that Resendes and Carolina Ledo are the child's parents, Daniela Ledo is his aunt, and Sousa has no familial relation, although she was reportedly in a relationship with Resendes, as per a source who knows the family.

All three women allegedly resided together with Resendes in the same apartment.

According to WJAR-TV in Providence, Rhode Island, Carolina Ledo and Sousa were at a laundromat when Carolina received a text from Resendes informing her that he suspected their son was dead but instructed her not to inform anyone. The 911 call was made an hour later, as reported by WJAR.

ICE stated that the women were charged with felony child endangerment, while Resendes faces charges of manslaughter, three counts of second-degree child abuse, and child endangerment.

According to the Globe, Resendes spoke in court during a Feb. 14 appearance with the assistance of a Portuguese interpreter.

ICE mentioned that one of the Portuguese nationals had overstayed her nonimmigrant tourist visa since April 1998, while the other two arrived in 2016 and 2022 respectively. ICE did not specify which women arrived in which years.

The three women were reportedly released on $10,000 surety bails after their arraignments, while Resendes had a $100,000 surety bail, according to WJAR. It remains unclear whether he was able to post bail.

According to ICE's December annual report, the Enforcement and Removal Operations directorate significantly increased the number of immigration enforcement arrests, nearly doubling the figures reported in 2022. Additionally, ERO conducted 142,580 removals and 62,545 Title 42 expulsions to over 170 countries globally in 2023.

ERO serves as the principal federal law enforcement authority responsible for domestic immigration enforcement, as stated by ICE.