Fairfax County, Virginia, reportedly did not comply with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer request concerning a Honduran national who was charged with committing sexual offenses against a child, according to ICE on Wednesday.
The individual, a 30-year-old man from Honduras, was later apprehended by immigration officials at his home in Bladensburg, Maryland, on April 15, following his release by Fairfax County on two separate occasions. ICE chose not to disclose his name in their announcement.
ICE highlighted the gravity of the accusations against the man, noting, “This Honduran noncitizen is implicated in grave offenses and posed a risk to children in the Washington, D.C. region.” The agency criticized local policies that limit cooperation with ICE, stating that these policies compromise the safety of local communities, suspects, and law enforcement personnel.
The initial entry of the Honduran national into the U.S. remains unclear, as does the precise timing and location of his arrival. According to ICE, he was arrested and subsequently released multiple times in connection with charges related to sexual crimes involving a minor.
On July 5, 2023, the Fairfax County Police Department first detained the individual, charging him with the felony of carnal knowledge of a child aged 13 to 14, without the use of force. The following day, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) issued an immigration detainer for him, but the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center did not comply with this request and released him on a $10,000 bond on July 10, 2023.
In February, the police arrested him again, this time on two additional counts of felony carnal knowledge of a child aged 13 to 14 without force, and two counts of felony indecent liberties with a child under 15 years of age. He was released the same day, prior to the filing of another immigration detainer by ERO.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office explained that the inmate was released by a local judge and highlighted that the sheriff’s office requires a judicial warrant from ICE to legally detain someone beyond their scheduled release. The statement elaborated, “Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office has consistently communicated to ICE that an administrative detainer does not legally justify detaining an inmate beyond their release date at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. We have advised ICE that a judicial immigration warrant is necessary for a transfer to ICE custody to ensure lawful detention.”
The statement further clarified, “The individual was released on bond for all charges by a Fairfax County judge. At the time of the ordered release, there were no outstanding judicial warrants against him, thus he was released according to the court order.”
Following his arrest, ICE deportation officers issued him a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge. He will remain in ICE custody pending the resolution of his removal proceedings.
