DHS warns Missouri not to release illegal alien charged with rape and kidnapping
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Federal officials are warning Missouri authorities not to release an illegal immigrant accused of raping and kidnapping a woman in a quiet college town on Easter Sunday; This is the second violent crime in the state in as many weeks involving a suspect unlawfully in the country.
Cristian Lopez-Gomez, a Honduran citizen who entered the United States illegally in April 2024 and was released into the country under the Biden administration, has been charged with the attack in Kirksville, where Truman State University is located, the Department of Homeland Security announced Monday.
Authorities said Lopez-Gomez raped the woman and held her against her will over the holiday weekend. He remains behind bars at the Adair County jail, where ICE placed a detainee to prevent his release.
DHS amplified that message in a social media post, urging Missouri authorities not to release Lopez-Gomez and emphasizing that cooperation with ICE is key to ensuring suspects like him are not “released back into our communities.”
A view of downtown Kirksville, Missouri, where authorities say an illegal immigrant is accused of raping and kidnapping a woman on Easter Sunday. (City of Kirksville/Department of Homeland Security)
DHS amplified that message in a statement Monday, calling on Missouri officials not to release Lopez-Gomez, whom she described as an “animal” and a “monster.” The agency emphasized that cooperation with ICE is key to ensuring suspects like him are not “released back into our communities.”
“Fortunately, Missouri is cooperating with ICE law enforcement,” said Acting DHS Deputy Secretary Lauren Bis. “When state and local law enforcement work with ICE, we can safely remove criminal illegal aliens from our country and put the safety of American citizens first.”
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The disturbing incident, which comes just weeks after another high-profile attack in Missouri involving an illegal immigrant suspect, is shaking the college town and fueling broader anger.
In that March case, 18-year-old Honduran citizen Yefry Archaga-Elvir is accused of fatally ambushing 15-year-old Miles Young, then chasing and shooting him as the teenager reportedly pleaded for his life.
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The killing sparked fierce backlash from Republican leaders, who pointed to the suspect’s immigration status as a broader public safety failure.
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“Unfortunately, this is just the latest example of a Missourian being killed by an illegal alien,” said Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., and called for comprehensive deportation efforts.
15-year-old Miles Young was killed in an ambush in Missouri in March 2026. Authorities charged Yefry Archaga in the case. (GoFundMe/Greene County Jail)
Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., warned that “dangerous people who should not be here will remain in our communities,” while Rep. Mark Alford added: “Our children should NEVER have to fear murder on our streets.”
Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek also called the teen’s death “another Missouri family destroyed” and argued that the crime “never would have happened” had the suspect not been in the country.
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Schmitt went further in a separate statement, blasting what he called the “invasion” and asking: “Where is the outrage when American sons and daughters are killed by illegal aliens who have no business in our country?”
The back-to-back cases have intensified concerns among GOP leaders, who say the attacks underscore the growing risks associated with illegal immigration and the need for stronger enforcement.
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Cristian Lopez-Gomez, a Honduran citizen accused of rape and kidnapping in Kirksville, Missouri, is being held in an ICE detainee after authorities said he entered the United States illegally in 2024. (Department of Homeland Security)
DHS officials echoed that message, emphasizing that if local law enforcement works with ICE, authorities can remove dangerous individuals and “put the safety of American citizens first.”
It was not immediately clear whether the victim in the Easter Sunday attack was a Truman State student. Requests for comment were sent to the university, local police and ICE Midwest.
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Lopez-Gomez is not believed to have a prior criminal history in the United States, but authorities say he entered the country illegally in April 2024 and was released.
Both cases remain under investigation.
