An illegal Honduran immigrant charged with rape, kidnapping, and assault was released onto the streets of Virginia, despite Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) urging the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center to hold him for deportation.

This individual had initially entered the United States in June 2021, apprehended by Border Patrol and subsequently released with a Notice to Appear, Fox News Digital reports

Trouble ensued in July 2023 when the immigrant faced severe charges in Herndon, Virginia, including felony rape, abduction, and assault on a family member.

NEW: An illegal immigrant from Honduras who was released into the US after being apprehended by Border Patrol in TX in June 2021 is now charged with felony rape & abduction by force in Virginia. He was arrested by local police there, but the Fairfax County jail didn’t honor ICE’s… pic.twitter.com/8knQMwHjCX

— 🇺🇲Salty Texan (@texan_maga) November 7, 2023

In response, ICE’s Washington D.C. branch issued a detainer—a request for notification upon the release of an illegal immigrant to initiate deportation proceedings. However, on August 17, the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, despite the gravity of the charges and the ICE detainer, released the individual without notifying the federal agency.

The illegal Honduran national remained at large for nearly two months until ICE eventually arrested him last month in Herndon. ICE criticized the decision not to alert them to the release of an individual facing such serious charges, emphasizing the potential threat posed to Virginia residents.

Russell Hott, the Washington D.C. field office director of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), expressed concern over the release, stating, “This undocumented Honduran national has proven to be a detriment to our community and a threat to Virginia residents.” Hott stressed ERO Washington’s commitment to detaining criminals when detainers are not honored.

Fairfax County, known for its refusal to honor most ICE detainers, has faced scrutiny for its sanctuary policies. While proponents argue that such policies encourage cooperation from otherwise-lawful undocumented immigrants, opponents contend that they jeopardize public safety by releasing potential offenders back into the community. The recent incident renews the debate on the effectiveness and consequences of sanctuary policies, raising questions about the balance between immigration enforcement and community safety.