ICE Detains Sri Lankan National with Extensive Criminal History, Including Sex Offenses, Employed at Michigan University

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the arrest of Sumith Gunasekera, a national of Sri Lanka, in Detroit on November 12, 2025. Gunasekera, who allegedly worked as an associate professor at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, has a documented history of criminal offenses. The arrest was made by ICE officers during a law enforcement operation.

Gunasekera’s alleged criminal record, as detailed by ICE, includes charges in Canada and the United States. In Brampton, Ontario, he was arrested in August 1998 for uttering death threats and, three days later, for charges related to sexual interference with a minor and invitation to sexual touching. He subsequently pleaded guilty to uttering a threat to cause death or bodily harm and sexual interference, resulting in a one-month jail sentence and a year of probation in November 1998. Later, in September 2003, he was arrested in Las Vegas for open and gross lewdness. In January 2004, a Las Vegas court convicted him of disorderly conduct and imposed fines.

According to ICE, Gunasekera first entered the United States in February 1998, traveled to Canada, and then re-entered the U.S. on a student visa later that same year. Concerns about his immigration status were reportedly amplified when he applied for a change of status with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in 2012, at which point his Canadian convictions became known. ICE stated that Gunasekera had made repeated attempts to adjust his immigration status over the years, despite the Canadian convictions rendering him ineligible for legal status in the U.S. He is currently being held in ICE custody, awaiting further immigration proceedings.

This development highlights how individuals with significant criminal histories may attempt to reside and work in the United States. The case underscores the role of federal agencies in identifying and apprehending individuals who may pose a risk to public safety and national security.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

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