U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the arrest of a Guatemalan illegal immigrant in Maryland who was previously released by local authorities despite facing serious weapons charges.

ICE officials said that 20-year-old Gener Pop-Cuz was taken into custody on February 1 in Prince George’s County after the county’s corrections department refused to honor an immigration detainer.

“The corrections department released Pop into the lobby, instead of safely handing him over to the ICE deportation officer who was waiting for the exchange, and he resisted arrest during the initial encounter. However, Pop was eventually subdued and placed in handcuffs as corrections officers failed to intervene,” ICE stated.

Pop initially entered the U.S. illegally in November 2017, when he was apprehended by Border Patrol near Texas’ Rio Grande Valley and given a notice to appear in immigration court. However, he failed to attend his hearing, and in 2022, a judge ordered his deportation.

On February 1, Pop was arrested by the Laurel Police Department and charged with possession of a loaded handgun, illegal possession of ammunition, possession of a firearm, and trespassing on private property. He was granted bond and released by the Prince George’s County Commissioner’s Office that same day. ICE then issued a detainer request with the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections in Upper Marlboro.

ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Baltimore acting Field Office Director Matthew Elliston criticized the county’s actions, stating, “Nobody wins when jurisdictions fail to transfer custody of violent offenders.”

“Cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE is critical to ensuring the safety of our officers, the public, and even the criminal aliens in custody,” Elliston said. “I strongly encourage our local jurisdictions to evaluate their policies and look forward to the day when we can put aside politics and do what’s best for the people of Maryland.”