Overview
- Andre Tiago Lucas, a Brazilian fugitive convicted of raping a 13-year-old, was arrested by ICE in October 2024 after living at a licensed daycare in Hyannis, Massachusetts.
- The daycare, operated by Franciele Nunes, was inspected five times by the state’s Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) without detecting Lucas’ presence.
- EEC background checks do not account for foreign criminal histories or immigration status, highlighting critical regulatory blind spots.
- The daycare’s license lapsed in March 2025, and it has since been permanently closed following public outcry over the case.
- State lawmakers are now advocating for expanded background checks, including international criminal records and immigration status, to prevent similar incidents in the future.