Menendez intern arrested by immigration officials (VIDEO)
US Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) speaks about the announcement that the Democratic leadership will not bring energy reform legislation to the floor for a vote before the summer recess at the U.S. Capitol on Aug. 3, 2010 in Washington, DC.
US immigration officials have arrested an intern for Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez for being an undocumented immigrant.
Luis Abrahan Sanchez Zavaleta, an 18-year-old from Peru, is also a registered sex offender, The Associated Press reported.
More from GlobalPost: US immigration reform talks kickstarted by 2 senators (VIDEO)
He was arrested last Thursday outside his home in New Jersey and now faces deportation.
Menendez told MSNBC he didn't know Sanchez had entered the US on an expired visa until Wednesday.
More from GlobalPost: Illegal immigration: Judge greenlights Arizona's 'show me your papers' law
He stressed the teen was an unpaid, college intern.
"So it's not like he's a staff, paid person," Menendez said. "We have a whole bunch of college interns. We give them some experience in the office."
Re-elected in November, Menendez has been a strong advocate for immigration reform, according to The Hill.
A US official told the AP that the Homeland Security Department instructed federal agents not to arrest Sanchez until after Election Day.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
The article you just read is free because dedicated readers and listeners like you chose to support our nonprofit newsroom. Our team works tirelessly to ensure you hear the latest in international, human-centered reporting every weekday. But our work would not be possible without you. We need your help.
Make a gift today to help us reach our $25,000 goal and keep The World going strong. Every gift will get us one step closer.