The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged detainers for three noncitizens who are being held at the Middle River Regional Jail in Staunton, Virginia, and have been charged with sex offenses involving children.

All three individuals were arrested in late July and remain in custody at the same facility.

Three Individuals Charged With Child Sex Offenses

• Efren Ramirez Escobedo, a Mexican national, was arrested July 24 and charged with sexual assault involving a victim age 13–14 and sexual assault involving forcible intercourse. DHS states that he entered the United States unlawfully at an unknown date and location.
• Santos Bautista-Molina, a Honduran national, was arrested July 27 and charged with nine counts of child solicitation and attempted sex offense with a child under 15. DHS states that he unlawfully entered the United States through Texas in September 2005.
• Bayron Jose De Paz-Lopez, a Guatemalan national, was arrested July 28 and charged with nine counts of child solicitation and attempted sex offense with a child under 15. DHS states that he entered the United States unlawfully through Arizona in 2021 and was released into the United States under the Biden administration.

“ICE has lodged detainers for three illegal aliens accused of sex crimes against children, all being held at the same jail in Staunton, Virginia,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “DHS is calling on Governor Abigail Spanberger and her fellow sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing these criminals from jail and to instead hand them over to ICE.”

Mullin added, “Under Spanberger, the Commonwealth of Virginia has become a magnet for illegal alien crime. These reckless sanctuary policies are putting American lives at risk.”

DHS Raises Concerns About Virginia Cooperation With ICE

DHS says that during her first days in office, Governor Abigail Spanberger issued executive orders limiting state cooperation with ICE and terminating state and local 287(g) agreements.

The department cited a series of cases in Virginia in recent months involving noncitizens accused or convicted of serious offenses. Among the cases highlighted by DHS are:

• Nehemia Noel Fuentes-Banegas, a Honduran national charged in Annandale with attempted disarming of a law enforcement officer, for whom ICE lodged a detainer in July.
• Raul Genesis Ortiz Moran, a Mexican national arrested by ICE in July after being charged with second-degree murder and aggravated sexual battery in connection with the death of a 2-year-old girl in Louisa County.
• Juan Arevalo Mendez, a Salvadoran national for whom ICE lodged a detainer in June after his arrest on charges of rape and abduction in Fairfax County.
• Samuel Flores de Dios, a Mexican national sentenced to 30 years in prison in June on federal charges involving the production of child sexual abuse material in Fredericksburg.
• Moises Domingo Rico Rosales, a Nicaraguan national for whom ICE lodged a detainer after an arrest on charges including abduction with intent to defile and indecent exposure in Annandale.
• Jose Nahun Aleman Hernandez, a Mexican national charged with molesting a 5-year-old girl in Woodbridge, for whom ICE lodged a detainer.
• Cristian Wilfredo Alvarenga Aguilar, a noncitizen charged in Herndon with carjacking, abduction, assault and robbery.
• Aroldo Santos-Velasques, a Guatemalan national sentenced to 25 years in prison in Loudoun County for sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl.
• Cristian Romero Saenz-Argueta, a Salvadoran national charged in Prince William County with raping a girl under 15.
• Jorge Enrique Garcia-Rodriguez, a Mexican national charged in Franklin County with forcible intercourse involving a victim under 13 and six counts of possession of child pornography.
• Walvin Victor Hugo Garcia, a Guatemalan national charged with raping a child under 13 after being released from custody in Fairfax County, according to DHS.
• Roni Mendez-Escobar, a Guatemalan national arrested by ICE after previously being released by Fairfax County despite facing a charge involving possession of child sexual abuse material with intent to distribute.
• Luzvin Orvando Garcia Moran, a Guatemalan national for whom ICE lodged a detainer after an arrest on an attempted rape charge.
• Israel Christopher Flores-Ortiz, a Salvadoran national convicted of nine counts of assault and battery after groping multiple underage girls at a Fairfax County high school.
• Misael Lopez Gomez, a Guatemalan national charged with murder and felony child abuse in connection with the death of his 3-month-old daughter in Fairfax County.
• Anibal Armando Chavarria Muy, a Guatemalan national charged with second-degree murder after a fatal stabbing in Bailey’s Crossroads.
• Abdul Jalloh, a Sierra Leonean national with more than 30 prior arrests who was charged with murder after the fatal stabbing of a woman at a bus stop in Hybla Valley.

DHS said the cases underscore its concerns about jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The department is urging Virginia officials and local authorities to honor ICE detainers for individuals who are subject to federal immigration enforcement.