Title: Venezuelan Man Arrested for Fraudulently Enrolling in Ohio High School as Minor
Perrysburg, Ohio — A 24-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela, Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra, was taken into custody this week for allegedly using forged documents to enroll at Perrysburg High School as a minor. Charged with forgery, he is currently held on a $50,000 bond.
The situation surfaced when Perrysburg Local Schools reported potential fraudulent activity to the Perrysburg Police Department. An initial investigation led detectives to collaborate with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, revealing that Labrador Sierra had posed as a 16-year-old unaccompanied minor since his enrollment on January 11, 2024.
School officials stated that every step had been taken in accordance with federal and state regulations designed to support students without legal guardians. During his time at the school, Labrador Sierra reportedly acquired a state-issued driver’s license, Social Security number, and Temporary Protective Status (TPS), enabling him to fully integrate into school life, including participation in junior varsity sports.
The fraud came to light when the guardians of Labrador Sierra contacted school officials with concerns over his true age. Upon meeting with administrators, he denied the allegations. Following this claim, the school acted swiftly, instructing the guardians to keep him off campus while further investigations were conducted.
Labrador Sierra, who first entered the U.S. in 2019, was apprehended during a traffic stop on Interstate 75. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed he is a visa overstay but had received TPS. His court appearance is scheduled for May 29.
The school district emphasized its compliance with legal procedures for supporting unaccompanied minors under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
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