The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Fairfax County, VA, officials ignored an ICE detainer for an illegal alien who was sentenced today for child sex crimes.
New: An illegal immigrant was sentenced for a child sex crime in Virginia. DHS says Fairfax County previously released the Guatemalan national and ignored ICE’s detainer. https://t.co/YeuZCt9TlJ
— Nick Minock (@NickMinock) September 21, 2026
Roni Mendez-Escobar, an illegal alien from Guatemala, received a six-year and five-month prison sentence after he was convicted of receiving “child sexual abuse material and illegally re-entering the United States.”
Authorities discovered 46 images and 65 videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on Mendez-Escobar’s electronic devices:
Mendez Escobar used WhatsApp to encourage others to consume CSAM and chat and video-call young girls. Mendez Escobar also used WhatsApp to distribute CSAM, including depictions of the sexual abuse and exploitation of prepubescent children. Mendez Escobar intentionally and repeatedly viewed, downloaded, and possessed images and videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct from at least October 2024 to August 2025.
Mendez-Escobar was arrested in October 2025 for 15 felony counts of possession of obscene material and 2 felony counts of possession of child porn with intent to distribute. ICE issued a detainer on him on October 23, 2025.
Fairfax County released him.
So not only did Fairfax County ignore the detainer, but the authorities released a person accused of possessing CSAM.
“Sanctuary politicians in Fairfax County refused to honor the detainer and released Mendez-Escobar on October 27 without notifying ICE,” DHS announced.
ICE arrested Mendez-Escobar on April 22, 2026, after one of his court appearances.
DHS said Mendez-Escobar illegally entered America and was deported three times in 2015.
He reentered America a fourth time “at an unknown date and location.”
“This illegal alien was sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of child pornography and illegal re-entry,” stated DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “When ICE lodged a detainer for him after his arrest in October 2025, sanctuary politicians in Fairfax County, Virginia refused to honor it and RELEASED him into their community. Fortunately, their attempts to protect this pedophile failed and ICE arrested him several months later. Now he will be behind bars where he belongs, and when he finishes his sentence, ICE will be ready to deport him so he can never threaten another American child.”
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