Malvern, PA – A 48-year-old Mexican national wanted for strongarm rape and previously convicted of retail theft was arrested by a multi-agency task force in Malvern on July 28, officials confirmed. The arrest underscores ongoing efforts by federal agencies to remove dangerous undocumented criminals from U.S. communities.
Multi-Agency Operation Leads to Arrest
The arrest of Silvestre Herrera-Vasquez was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and included agents from:
- Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Philadelphia
- Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia
- IRS Philadelphia
- ATF Philadelphia
Officials said Herrera-Vasquez was taken into custody without incident and is now being processed for expedited removal.
“The arrest of dangerous criminal illegal aliens like Herrera-Vasquez demonstrates ICE’s absolute commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our communities,” said ERO Philadelphia Field Office Director Brian McShane.
Suspect’s Criminal History and Aliases
Herrera-Vasquez has a documented criminal record in Pennsylvania, including a retail theft conviction in 2011 under the alias “Alex Acosta”. He was arrested by the Philadelphia Police Department, convicted, and fined.
In January 2014, he was again flagged by Philadelphia authorities after a warrant was issued under a different alias, “Marcos Garcia-Reyes”, in connection with a strongarm rape case. The details of that case have not been fully disclosed, but the charge indicates a violent, force-based sexual assault.
ICE did not specify how long Herrera-Vasquez had been in the United States or when he entered the country illegally, but officials confirmed that his identity had been concealed through multiple aliases over the years.
ICE Praises Interagency Coordination
ICE officials praised the success of the operation, highlighting the value of interagency cooperation.
“By working together, we are able to leverage our collective resources and expertise to apprehend dangerous criminals and uphold the law,” McShane added.
Authorities say this operation is part of an ongoing initiative to locate criminal fugitives and undocumented individuals with violent histories. Similar task force efforts have led to multiple high-risk arrests across the state in recent months.
Pending Removal from the U.S.
Herrera-Vasquez is now in ICE custody and will be processed for removal proceedings. ICE confirmed that he is eligible for expedited removal due to his prior criminal convictions and outstanding felony warrant.
If deported, he may be permanently barred from re-entering the United States under current federal immigration law.
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