Executive Summary
- Silvio Berge, a German national, was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol in Michigan for deportation.
- Berge was convicted of soliciting a minor for sex after an investigation involving an undercover officer.
- His U.S. visa was revoked following the conviction, triggering federal custody upon his jail release.
A 60-year-old German national was taken into custody by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Monroe, Michigan, immediately following his release from jail for a child sex offense conviction. Authorities confirmed that Silvio Berge, who had been residing in the U.S. on a visa, was arrested on December 5 to face deportation proceedings.
Berge had served nearly nine months at the Monroe County Jail after being convicted of accosting, enticing, or soliciting a child for immoral purposes. According to statements from officials, the investigation began in March when Berge solicited an individual he believed to be a teenager. Investigators revealed that the recipient of the messages was an undercover officer.
The operation leading to Berge’s initial charge and subsequent conviction was a joint effort involving Homeland Security Investigations and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Violent Internet Predator Exploitation Response Team. Following the completion of his jail sentence, agents from the U.S. Border Patrol’s Gibraltar Station executed the arrest as his visa had been revoked due to the conviction.
“Our agents, working closely with our law enforcement partners, continue to strengthen border security and protect the communities we serve,” Detroit Sector Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Javier Geronimo, Jr. said in a statement. “When a person abuses the privilege of legal entry, we act decisively, including the revocation of their immigration status, to ensure accountability and safeguard our communities.”
Immigration Enforcement Protocols
The immediate transfer of a foreign national from local corrections to federal custody underscores the coordination between municipal law enforcement and federal immigration agencies regarding criminal aliens. This procedure ensures that individuals convicted of serious offenses, particularly those involving minors, are processed for removal from the country rather than being released back into the general public. While Berge has been convicted of the underlying offense, it is important to note that all individuals involved in new legal or administrative proceedings are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
