ICE detains Green Card Lottery immigrant charged with raping 16-year-old in Nashville, held victim at gunpoint

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged an arrest detainer against Mena Mohsen Farez Nmn Awad, an Egyptian national, after he was charged with raping a 16-year-old girl while she slept in her own bed in Nashville, Tennessee.

According to local reports, on December 31, 2025, Awad broke into the minor girl’s apartment. She was lying next to her nephew when she awoke to find Awad with a handgun tucked into his waistband, committing the assault. After freeing herself, the victim grabbed her nephew and told Awad she would not report the attack if he left.




Following the incident, the victim contacted her sister, who alerted the authorities. A search led to Awad being apprehended by police in Louisville, Kentucky, on January 16, 2026. He was extradited to Tennessee the following week and charged with aggravated rape with a weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and aggravated burglary.

Awad was admitted to the US via the Green Card Lottery system, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

“Horrendous immigration policies allowed this monster into our country and made victims of children and families,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

She added, “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 victimise more children.”

Since entering the United States in 2017 under the Diversity Lottery programme, Awad has accumulated a long criminal record, including domestic violence, intimidation, possession of a weapon, violation of a court order, and vehicle theft.

ICE has placed Awad in removal proceedings and lodged a detainer to prevent him from being released into US communities while legal action continues.