Virginia Sanctuary Policies Under Scrutiny Following Arrest

An illegal immigrant accused of exposing himself to a woman and attempting to drag another into the woods in a Virginia park was previously arrested for drug trafficking. However, he was released when local officials did not cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) states that Moises Domingo Rico Rosales, a Nicaraguan national, entered the U.S. illegally in 2022.

He was arrested by Fairfax County police recently for alleged abduction with intent to defile and indecent exposure. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer, requesting Fairfax County officials not to release him. According to DHS, Rico Rosales had been arrested in Fairfax County in 2024 on drug charges, which were subsequently dropped by Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office.

This criminal illegal alien exposed himself to one woman in a park and then attempted to abduct another woman the same day. He was previously arrested for drug trafficking in 2024, but Fairfax County sanctuary politicians refused to cooperate with ICE law enforcement and released him from jail. — Acting Assistant Secretary of DHS Lauren Bis.

The case puts a spotlight on Northern Virginia’s ICE detainers and sanctuary policy debates. This follows another incident where an illegal immigrant from Sierra Leone was charged with second-degree murder. These cases have sparked discussions and hearings regarding Fairfax County’s handling of ICE detainers.

Fairfax officials argue that their policies require a judicial warrant rather than holding inmates solely on ICE detainers. An ICE detainer asks local jails to inform federal authorities before releasing an inmate, allowing ICE to take custody. Officials express that at-large arrests are more unpredictable compared to jail transfers.

The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office stated the DHS’s characterization of the Rico Rosales case was inaccurate. They mentioned that despite an informal ICE request, there was no judicial warrant. The office clarifies they do not interfere with ICE detainer actions, but requires a judicial warrant for holding inmates.

Governor Abigail Spanberger’s administration has rolled back Virginia’s cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement by rescinding certain directives and restricting state and local law enforcement collaboration. Her office maintains that local custody decisions are up to local authorities.

Governor Spanberger emphasized the importance of prosecuting and deporting violent criminals in the U.S. illegally, stating that under her leadership, state law enforcement continues to inform ICE of individuals born outside the U.S. under state custody.