Abel Kai Gblah, and Illegal alien named and charged by DHS as a "criminal pedophile"
AZ Rep. John Gillette Cites ICE Detainer After Registered Sex Offender Accused in Phoenix School Assault
Abel Kai Gblah, a Liberian national, is described by DHS as a ‘criminal alien pedophile’
By Matthew Holloway, January 2, 2026 9:11 am
Arizona State Representative John Gillette issued a statement in late December following a federal immigration enforcement action involving a registered sex offender accused of the sexual assault of an elementary school student in Phoenix.
In a press release dated Dec. 23, Gillette said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a detainer for Abel Kai Gblah, whom federal authorities identified as a Liberian national, a registered sex offender, and a criminal alien, in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 10-year-old student at Orangewood Elementary School.
The enforcement action referenced by Gillette was previously confirmed in a Nov. 26, 2025 announcement published by the Department of Homeland Security. In that release, DHS stated that ICE had issued a detainer on what the department described as a “criminal alien pedophile” accused of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old child in Phoenix.
According to DHS, the detainer was lodged to ensure federal authorities would have the opportunity to assume custody of the suspect in accordance with federal immigration law. ICE detainers are formal requests asking local law-enforcement agencies to notify ICE prior to releasing an individual who may be subject to immigration enforcement.
Gillette’s statement emphasized that ICE’s action followed the identification of a suspect with prior sex-offender registration status. He argued that cooperation between local jurisdictions and federal authorities is critical in cases involving violent crime and sexual offenses against minors.
“This case involves a known, registered sex offender who should never have had the opportunity to victimize a child in our community,” Gillette said. “When ICE identifies a criminal alien and registered sex offender connected to the assault of a child, there is no room for excuses.”
The press release called on local and county officials to cooperate fully with ICE and DHS detainers in cases involving violent crime or sexual offenses. Gillette’s office also urged clearer coordination protocols between local law enforcement agencies and federal authorities, as well as transparency from officials responsible for public safety.
https://t.co/jl8Ls50SKs pic.twitter.com/U0X1denFDF
— Rep. John Gillette AZ House LD30 (@AzRepGillette) December 23, 2025
Gillette wrote on Substack, “ICE officers are doing the hard work under political fire to locate offenders, execute detainers, and safeguard our neighborhoods. They deserve support, not obstruction. They are not ‘dissapearing people’ they are making arrest under Sec. 8 USC 1324-1325 as federal law enforcement agents.”
Reporting from AZFamily further confirmed that ICE lodged the detainer after the alleged assault was reported and that the suspect had a prior sex-offender registration status.
In the DHS announcement, Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of homeland security, said the suspect “sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl in her own elementary school,” adding that ICE officers would enter a school “to arrest a depraved criminal like this.”
McLaughlin further criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the case, stating that the suspect should have been prioritized for removal following a prior arrest for child sex crimes.
As of publication, court records and charging documents related to the alleged assault have not been publicly released in the materials cited by Gillette’s office or DHS. Neither ICE nor local authorities have provided additional details beyond the detainer announcement and related statements.
