The battle against illegal immigration in the United States continues. An undocumented immigrant from Honduras, accused of child abduction and burglary, was released by a state court in Virginia. The Trump administration intervened.
Scandal in Fairfax
As reported by Fox News, on May 2 in Fairfax, Virginia, agents from ICE—the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency—detained Hyrum Baquedano-Rodriguez. He is an undocumented immigrant from Honduras who had previously been charged with serious offenses: child abduction with intent to exploit and burglary with intent to commit rape. In a surprising turn, the court dismissed the charges. However, federal authorities did not relent.
“Baquedano-Rodriguez poses a threat to our communities,” stated Russell Hott, ICE Director in Washington. “We will protect our communities from criminal aliens.”
This was not Baquedano-Rodriguez’s first encounter with the justice system. In 2018, he illegally crossed the U.S. border. In the years that followed, he was repeatedly convicted, including for child molestation and burglary. He served time in prison, yet local authorities released him despite ICE’s requests for detention.
The current administration under President Donald Trump emphasizes that so-called “sanctuary cities” must not shield criminals. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem wrote candidly:
“Together with President Trump, we are fighting every day for secure borders. This is just the beginning of the Golden Age of America.”
This is yet another instance in which an undocumented immigrant from Honduras, accused of crimes against children, was released by the authorities in Fairfax. ICE warns that the lack of cooperation from local governments with federal enforcement puts entire communities at risk.