The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Friday confirmed it has issued a detainer for Mena Mohsen Farez Awad, who the agency confirmed previously entered the United States through the terminated Diversity Lottery program, and is accused of raping a 16-year-old after illegally entering her apartment in Nashville on December 31.
In a press release, the agency confirmed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed the detainer against Awad, who it described as “a criminal illegal alien from Egypt.”
According to ICE, detainers are lodged, “against potentially dangerous aliens who have been arrested by another law enforcement agency or are removable from the United States.”
Awad (pictured above) was arrested in Kentucky earlier this month after charges were filed over the sexual assault, having been accused of illegally entering the victim’s home with a gun and raping her while she slept. Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) said detectives were able to use security camera footage to identify Awad as known member of Nashville’s homeless population.
DHS revealed that Awad first entered the United States in 2017 under the Diversity Lottery program, which Secretary Kristi Noem terminated last year, and reported that the Egyptian national, “racked up a long rap sheet including domestic violence, intimidation, possession of a weapon, violation of a court order, and vehicle theft.”
Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called the Diversity Lottery program a “horrendous” policy that, “allowed this monster into our country and made victims of children and families.”
McLaughlin stated, “This child rapist was allowed into our country by the Diversity Lottery program. Secretary Noem paused the diversity lottery to ensure no more Americans are harmed by this disastrous program. ICE lodged an arrest detainer to ensure he is not released onto our streets to victimize more children.”
The Diversity Lottery program was suspended last month, after the Trump administration determined the man suspected of committing shootings at Brown University and MIT entered the country on such a visa.
A report released last week by the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference (TDAGC) revealed that Tennessee charged or convicted more than 11,000 illegal immigrants in 2025, with the most cases occurring in Davidson County. Domestic assault and aggravated assault both ranked among the top ten offenses, according to TADGC.
ICE and Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) arrested 196 illegal aliens during a joint immigration enforcement operation in Nashville that concluded last May.
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
I have to wonder how many more like this thug are lurking around Nashville/Davidson County. One is too many!