Removal proceedings are underway from U.S. immigration enforcement for a Chinese citizen who was recently charged with sex trafficking in the Midcoast.

Rockland police and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents arrested 54-year-old Tian Tao last month on accusations he operated a massage parlor that police had raided for sex trafficking and prostitution.

Tao first entered the U.S. legally in 2016, but violated the terms of his admission, according to ICE, which announced his intended removal to China.

“Illicit massage parlors are notoriously difficult to investigate, but collaboration between our special agents and local police allowed us to bring a significant consequence to a person charged with a serious crime in our community,” said CE Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “There is no place in New England for people who exploit and traffic vulnerable people. Working together, we prove that actions have consequences, in this case, the consequence is removal from the United States.”