Senate Intern Arrested as Illegal Immigrant, Registered Sex Offender

Faces deportation to Peru

An unpaid intern to Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., was a registered sex offender and undocumented immigrant and is now facing deportation, a DHS official confirmed Wednesday to ABC News.

The intern, 18 year-old Luis Abrahan Sanchez Zavaleta from Peru, who worked in a New Jersey office for Menendez, was arrested on December 6th. News of the arrest was first reported by the Associated Press.

The senator's office was informed Monday of the arrest and the senator was informed today, Menendez said. The Senator defended his office's action today, emphasizing that the intern applied, was recommended and vetted by his school for the internship, not the Senators office.