This booking photo shows a Mexican national accused of home invasion and sexual assault. (St Josephs County Sheriffs Dept.)
He was arraigned in court on Friday and his next court date is set for April 30. During that arraignment, officials warned he was a flight risk.
"This is so serious that we’ve got to make sure we protect St. Joseph County, and honestly any county in the United States because we can’t afford to have this person leave," prosecutor David Marvin said during Hernandez-Ruiz's arraignment, according to WWMT.
Law enforcement were dispatched to the Sweet Lake Mobile Home Park on March 20 for the report of a home invasion. Deputies subsequently found that two girls under the age of 13 had been sexually assaulted.
‘SIGNIFICANT THREAT’ ICE TRACKS DOWN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHARGED WITH CHILD SEX CRIME
Surveillance footage showed a vehicle that was eventually located, but the suspect fled the area prior to being taken into custody. He ultimately fled the state. The sheriff’s office said they tracked him to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he was eventually caught.
"Thanks to the meticulous planning, execution, and collaboration between multiple law enforcement partners, a dangerous predator is in custody," Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said in a statement.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS
An immigration detainer is lodged by ICE on a suspect who they believe is deportable. It is a request that, on the suspect's release, ICE is alerted so they can take them into custody.
Adam Shaw is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security.
He can be reached at adam.shaw2@fox.com or on Twitter.
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