Virginia has experienced another violent crime, reportedly carried out by an undocumented immigrant, amidst ongoing discussions regarding “sanctuary” policies in various parts of the nation and the state.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has confirmed to Fox News that the individual arrested for the deadly carjacking of a grandmother in Virginia on Sunday is an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador.
Jose Aguilar-Martinez, 21, faces charges related to the incident on Sunday that resulted in the death of 54-year-old Melody Waldecker, reported FOX 5 DC.
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Melody Waldecker and Jose Aguilar-Martinez (Handout)
Per the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office, Aguilar-Martinez is accused of carjacking Waldecker on July 28. Authorities concluded that she was hit by her own vehicle as the suspected carjacker escaped the scene. ICE has confirmed that Aguilar-Martinez entered the U.S. as a “gotaway,” implying he crossed into the U.S. without being apprehended by Border Patrol.
The agency stated it has filed a detainer request with local authorities, which is a formal request for him to be handed over to ICE custody when he is released from local jail.
The sheriff’s office reported that Aguilar-Martinez possessed a California driver’s license. California, being a sanctuary state, has policies enabling undocumented immigrants to obtain licenses.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHARGED WITH RUNNING OVER GRANDMOTHER DURING FATAL VIRGINIA CARJACKING
This incident follows another crime in the state involving undocumented immigrants. At least two suspects in the murder of a man, whose body was found near a walking trail in Oakton, Virginia, are believed to be undocumented immigrants, according to ABC 7.
Maudin Anibal Guzman-Videz, a Honduran national who entered the U.S. in 2018, was released into the country, despite being ordered removed in 2019. He remained in the U.S., as reported by ICE to Fox News Digital.
ICE indicated that he has multiple detainers against him in Fairfax County that have not been acted upon. Guzman-Videz has a criminal record that includes an assault conviction and burglary offenses. However, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office mentioned to 7News that they did not receive a detainer request from ICE.
The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office has released a statement detailing its deference to the state attorney general’s views, which state that a detainer should be considered just a request, and the office will only honor such requests if accompanied by a judicial warrant from ICE.
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“ICE understands that if they wish to detain one of these offenders, all they need is a judicial warrant. They are informed every time an undocumented immigrant enters our custody. However, repeatedly, they fail to secure such a warrant for detention. This lack of action is a shortcoming of ICE, not the Sheriff’s Office,” the Sheriff’s Office stated.
“A person’s status as an inmate or an undocumented immigrant does not lessen their right to be free from unlawful seizure, nor does it negate their access to due process and equal protection,” the sheriff added.
This stance has drawn criticism from other officials in the state, who described it as a “cop-out.” Over the last year, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office has had 725 undocumented immigrants in their custody but has only transferred three to ICE, according to 7 News.
ICE confirmed to Fox News Digital that a second suspect apprehended in the incident, Wilmer Adalid Guzman-Videz, is also an undocumented immigrant from Honduras, who entered illegally in 2022 and was released with a notice to appear. He was arrested in Washington, D.C., and ICE has issued a detainer with the local police.
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Virginia is viewed as a possible swing state, with some polls indicating it might be within reach for former President Trump; illegal immigration remains a significant concern for voters as the 2024 election approaches.
Contributions to this report were made by Fox News’ Bill Melugin, Landon Mion, and Louis Casiano.
