The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested a Nigerian national who worked as a canvasser for a Democratic congressional campaign in Pennsylvania following his guilty plea to a disorderly conduct charge linked to an alleged public exposure incident.
The US Department of Homeland Security disclosed this in a statement issued on October 7, identifying the man as Chimaobim Adedayo Igbojekwe.
According to the department, Igbojekwe was arrested in East Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania, on September 27 over alleged indecent exposure and disorderly conduct.
He subsequently pleaded guilty to the disorderly conduct charge, prompting ICE to arrest him on October 1, the statement said.
The DHS identified Igbojekwe as a former canvasser for Janelle Stelson, the Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania’s 10th congressional district.
Citing local media reports, the department alleged that he was found exposing himself in a residential neighbourhood near a park where residents, including children, were present.
Reacting to the incident, ICE Deputy Director Charles Wall criticised Stelson for employing the Nigerian national on her campaign.
“It’s unbelievable that Janelle Stelson would employ an illegal alien to work on a Congressional campaign, let alone a pervert who exposed himself in public,” Wall said.
He added that the Trump administration would continue efforts to remove undocumented immigrants it considers dangerous to public safety.
The DHS said Igbojekwe was lawfully admitted to the United States in June 2017 but remained in the country after his authorised period of stay expired in November 2019.
It added that he was granted deferred action by the Biden administration in September 2021.
The department did not provide further details about the status of his immigration proceedings.