Strange Twist In Arrest Of Sex Offender Senate Intern

By ALICIA A. CALDWELL, The ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON -- Internal government documents show that federal immigration agents were prepared to arrest an undocumented immigrant and registered sex offender days before the November elections but were ordered by Washington to hold off. Officials warned of "significant interest" from Congress and news organizations because the suspect was a volunteer intern for Sen. Robert Menendez.

Last month the Homeland Security Department said an Associated Press report about delays in the arrest of Luis Abrahan Sanchez Zavaleta was "categorically false."

Sanchez, 18, was arrested at his home in New Jersey on Dec. 6 and has since been released and is facing deportation.

After the AP story, Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa and six other Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee asked the Obama administration for details about the incident.