David DePape, suspect in violent Pelosi attack, in U.S. illegally, ICE officials say
A man arrested while he was allegedly carrying a knife and suspected of attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday has a felony record, along with an immigration and child abuse case, according to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Enforcement (ICE) agency.
“This individual has a prior conviction for a state law that prohibits a person from possessing a sharp instrument in a building where children gather without proper authorization,” an ICE spokesperson said in an email on Thursday. “While ICE does not provide any individual’s immigration status to law enforcement or the public, when ICE suspects criminal activity, it becomes a priority of the agency to pursue and locate that individual.”
DePape, who was arrested and booked at a jail in Laval, Quebec, on charges of carrying a concealed weapon and assault with a deadly weapon, was also known on Wednesday to be an illegal immigrant. The agency issued a public statement Wednesday to confirm that DePape has an active ICE detainer.
“This case concerns a violent stabbing attack against a prominent public official,” said ICE deputy director Ronald D. Vitiello Jr. in the statement. “We do not have any additional information regarding the attack and are continuing to investigate this crime as a serious incident and conduct a thorough review of the case. This case is a reminder that ICE will take into consideration all of the relevant facts when determining whether to take action in a targeted ICE detainer.”
Vitiello said that DePape is being held in the Laval County Correctional Facility, in the absence of a bail determination.
He also said DePape does not have any felony convictions in the United States, and that his criminal history is “minimal.”
“He remains a threat to public safety, and this remains a dangerous and violent crime,” Vitiello said.
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