Migrant Living in Massachusetts Hotel Arrested for Allegedly Raping Teenage Girl

On June 11, Cory B. Alvarez, a Haitian man living in a Massachusetts hotel used for housing migrants, was arraigned on child rape charges. The 26-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charges of aggravated rape of a child with a 10-year age difference and rape of a child by force. This comes after a Massachusetts court ruled Alvarez to be dangerous following his arrest on March 13.

Following his arraignment, Alvarez remains held without bail. The judge has also prohibited Alvarez from contacting the victim and ordered him to surrender his passport. The allegations arose at the Comfort Inn in Rockland, Massachusetts, which participates in a state and federal program to house migrant families.

Law enforcement responded to a call at the Comfort Inn on March 13 regarding a sexual assault. Upon arrival, officers spoke with the victim, who was then taken to the South Shore Hospital for treatment. The victim reported that Alvarez had forced himself on her after offering to help her with her tablet. Subsequently, Alvarez was arrested based on the developed probable cause.

Migrant Housing Vetting and Crisis Response

Governor Maura Healey stated that everyone entering the migrant housing is thoroughly vetted, reassuring residents in the wake of the incident. However, the migrant crisis has been an ongoing challenge for Massachusetts, with emergency shelters reaching capacity swiftly. The crisis has also prompted emergency declarations from other cities and states, such as New York City, Chicago, and New York.