BIG RAPIDS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Ferris State University confirmed to Michigan News Source that an associate professor arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last month is no longer employed by the school.

The arrest.

The professor, identified by ICE as Sumith Gunasekera, was taken into custody in Detroit on Nov. 12. ICE officials said Gunasekera was living in the United States illegally and was not eligible for legal status due to a prior criminal history.

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At the time of his arrest, ICE stated that Gunasekera is a citizen of Sri Lanka and had violated the terms of his stay in the U.S.

Gunasekara’s history.

ICE alleges Gunasekera has a lengthy record of problematic behavior. In August 1998, police in Brampton, Ontario arrested him for uttering death threats. Officials arrested him again three days later again for invitation to sexual touching and sexual interference, and Gunasekera admitted to officers that charge involved a minor.

A few months later, a criminal court convicted him on those charges and sentenced him to 1 month of incarceration and 1 year of probation. A 2003 open and gross lewdness arrest in Las Vegas lead to a conviction with fines.

“It’s sickening that a sex offender was working as a professor on an American college campus and was given access to vulnerable students to potentially victimize them,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Thanks to the brave ICE law enforcement officers, this sicko is behind bars and no longer able to prey on Americans. His days of exploiting the immigration system are OVER. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, criminals are not welcome in the U.S.”

Questions moving forward.

Michigan News Source asked FSU’s Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications Dave Murphy what protocols will Ferris put in place going forward to prevent the hiring of illegals. He said, “It would be inappropriate to discuss a personnel issue.”

Gunasekera remains in ICE custody pending further immigration proceedings.