Marvin Perez Lopez is arrested for kidnapping and raping an 11-year-old girl weeks after illegally crossing the border and being given a 2027 immigration court date

An undocumented immigrant who illegally crossed the Mexican border into the US has been arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl. 

Marvin Perez Lopez, 20, was arrested by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office on Saturday after allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor under the age of 13.

Lopez, who has confessed to the crimes, made it to the United States from his native Guatemala in January. 

After being picked up by Border Patrol he was released pending an immigration court date some three years in the future - in 2027.

Marvin Perez Lopez, 20, was taken into custody by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office for an incident involving the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of a minor under 13 years old

Lopez made it to Florida in January of this year where it is alleged he carried out his heinous crimes against a pre-teen girl who is in the sixth grade.

The abduction occurred in a residential area of Lake Worth Beach, south of West Palm Beach. 

Lopez is alleged to have raped the girl in a van that was parked outside her family home.

Incredibly, the girl's mother banged on the side of the van where her daughter was being held and she was able to escape.

Lopez then ran out of the van, saying he was sorry and asked for forgiveness.

The affidavit said the child and Lopez live in the same apartment building. 

The mother didn't call the police initially because she was afraid that her own immigration status might be called into question. She had also had a prior incident when her daughter was taken from her by authorities.  

The 11-year-old girl told investigators how Lopez grabbed her hand and told her to 'get into the van.' 

She explained how he started touching her and that she pushed Lopez away and was able to get out of the van, only for him to pull her back inside the vehicle.

The girl then outlined to investigators how Lopez sexually assaulted her.

Police then went to Lopez's apartment to question him but as they did so, he escaped through a window in the back of the home. 

Lopez sister-in-law appeared to now know what he had done.

'It was 9 at night and the mom came into my house saying that something happened with her daughter and Marvin,' Hermencie Vasquez said to WPTV. 'I asked Marvin what would he do if she got pregnant and if he would be responsible, and he said yes he would be responsible for the child.' 

Lopez is currently being held in the Palm Beach Country Jail without bond. Police say he has admitted to the charges against him. 

It was workers at the Guatemalan Maya Center that alerted police about the sexual assault.

'Our work in the community paid off because we have a good relationship with that center,' Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said. 

'We have a lot of people here in Palm Beach County that may or may not be illegal, and they become victims. They shouldn't be afraid to call us. We're not going to call Border Patrol if they're a victim and haven't committed a crime. We're going to help them. 

'Before he [Lopez] even remotely even thinks he's going to get deported, he's going to do the time here first,' Bradshaw explained. 

Lopez had made it to Florida from Guatemala where it is alleged he carried out his heinous crimes against a pre-teen

When migrants cross the US border, they are assigned a hearing date to explain to an immigration judge why they should not be deported. 

The hearing is often set years in advance. 

Immigrants are issued with a Notice to Appear when they enter, but the document also has to be filed with the court by the Department of Homeland Security. 

'They know they'll get a hearing date many years from now and during that time, just with that hearing notice, for example, they can get a driver's license,' Immigration attorney Richard Hujber told WPTV. 

'If they seek asylum, they can also get a work permit, and nobody is looking at the merit as to whether they have a legitimate valid asylum claim.' 

When migrants cross the US border, they are assigned a hearing date to explain to an immigration judge why they should not be deported (file photo from April 2023)

This incident comes only months after three undocumented immigrants from Guatemala were accused of forcing a woman into a car and sexually battering her at two locations in Palm Beach County. From left, Andres Felipe Morale, Darinel Ordonez Jimenez, Marcos Felipe Ramirez

Failure to do so means the hearing can't proceed and a decision can't be made. 

This incident comes only months after three undocumented immigrants from Guatemala were accused of forcing a woman into a car and sexually battering her at two locations in Palm Beach County.

All three suspects, 29-year-old Andres Felipe Morales, 30-year-old Darinel Ordonez Jjimenez, and 31-year-old Marcos Felipe Ramirez, were arrested and booked into the Palm Beach County jail.

Morales was faces charges of sexual assault and false imprisonment while the other other two are held on two counts of felony criminal conspiracy.