Pictured: Illegal migrant 'who sexually assaulted 13-year-old girl in New York City park three years after crossing southern border'

A suspected illegal immigrant arrested over the rape of a 13-year-old girl in a New York City park has been pictured for the first time.

Police said the man approached the girl and a 13-year-old boy at Kissena Corridor Park while brandishing a machete.

He then tied their wrists together with shoelaces before sexually assaulting the girl, according to cops.

Fox News reports the suspect is an illegal immigrant from Ecuador who entered the US through the southern border three years ago quoting police sources.

The man allegedly has several prior low level offenses including drinking in public and hopping subway turnstiles. 

An image showed the shirtless suspect being led away by police wearing just one shoe after the tussle with locals.

The NYPD confirmed it had a person of interest in custody, but said it will not be releasing any further details until formal charges are filed.

The man was apprehended after neighbors recognized him from a wanted photo and restrained him as they called 911.

The attack took place on Thursday around three miles from the Citi Field stadium, in the neighborhood of the victim's school.

The children were approached by a man with a blade and forced into a wooded area, police said.

Following the attack, he made of with their phones but left behind the laces and a water bottle which are being forensically analyzed, CBS reports. 

Police described the suspect as a Hispanic man in his 20s with braces and a distinctive tattoo of a boar with red eyes on his chest.

They released video footage of him on a bike in an attempt to track him down, offering a $10,000 reward for information.

On Monday, community leaders gathered to demand cameras be installed at the park as they handed out wanted fliers. 

The incident has shaken locals and seen the park all but deserted in recent days. 

'It's shocking. This park is usually packed. Parents use this as a holding ground for kids to be picked up,' resident Bernard Chow told CBS.