Rokita accuses Monroe County sheriff of violating ICE hold and releasing sex offender
The person at the heart of the controversy is 38-year-old Manuel Lopez Lopez.
The Bloomington man pleaded guilty earlier this year to a 2024 sexual assault and was released in February after 222 days in jail. Then on July 2, he was arrested and charged with attempted rape, criminal confinement and battery, in the attack of a 26-year-old woman walking on Bloomington's B-Line Trail.
More: Lopez arrested again Good Samaritan intervenes, detaining man attacking woman on B-Line Trail
"ICE confirmed with our office that this individual is an illegal alien and the Monroe County Sheriff Department released him back into the Bloomington community after his crimes in 2024," Rokita said. "Instead of honoring ICE's detainer request and getting this criminal out of our country entirely, he was released back into the community and has assaulted someone else.
"He is back in Monroe Couny jail. Don't make the same mistake. Work with ICE this time and DEPORT HIM! This should've never happened and we will continue to hold Sheriff Marte accountable."
The statement on X featured Lopez's mug shot from his July 2 arrest.
Marté fired back at Rokita's allegation, issuing a statement on July 10 standing his ground. He said there was no ICE hold and that his office didn't do anything wrong.
"On Feb. 19, 2025, Manuel Lopez Lopez entered a plea agreement, was convicted on a Level 6 Felony-Confinement, and was released by the court," the news release said. "At the time of his release, there was not an immigration detainer on file for him with the Monroe County Correctional Center."
He said the jail had received what's called a 'Request for Advance Notification of Release' from ICE requesting law enforcement provide notice of release to ICE. "This form specifically states that it 'does not request or authorize that you detain the subject beyond the time that he or she is scheduled for release from your custody,'' Marté said.
"That request was honored, and ICE was notified before Lopez was released."
Marté recently updated immigration policies to be in line with changes in state law.
Sheriff updates policy County amends jail immigration detention policy to comply with new law; lawsuit continues
"The Sheriff's Office crafted the Standard Operating Procedure to comply with all applicable laws and constitutional guarantees," the sheriff said. "It is the position of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office that the current policy balances our obligation to enforce the laws while ensuring that constitutional rights are protected."
A 2024 lawsuit Rokita filed against Marté over interpretation of immigration policies is pending in Monroe Circuit Court, with a ruling in a motion to dismiss expected soon. Rokita claims the law requires all people arrested without legal citizenship be reported to U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials and detained.
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