ICE agents arrested Walvin Victor Hugo Garcia, a Guatemalan national, after Fairfax County courts released him despite an active federal detainer. Garcia appeared in court on June 2025 charges of child rape involving a minor under age 13, sexual offenses using computers with minors, and distributing drugs to children.
This incident follows a pattern in Virginia: In February 2025, ICE detained Iranian national Shayan Kahhal after Fairfax County officials released him despite an existing detainer. Kahhal had been convicted of rape and strongarm sodomy.
Garcia is the second individual freed by Virginia local authorities recently who were then arrested by ICE due to ignored federal detainers. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Fairfax County prosecutors released Garcia after refusing to comply with a detainer issued following his June 2025 arrest.
Agents apprehended Garcia on May 1 at a courthouse in Virginia, where he had appeared for a court hearing. He was previously deported into the country during an October 2023 border incident but remained in the U.S. despite a final deportation order issued in February 2025.
Similarly, Fairfax County authorities released Abdul Jalloh, a Sierra Leonean national who stabbed 41-year-old Stephanie Minter to death at a bus stop. Jalloh had been arrested over 30 times on charges including rape, malicious wounding, assault, drug possession, and other offenses since 2020. ICE had previously issued a detainer for Jalloh in that year.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat and former CIA officer, has banned state-level cooperation with ICE to remove illegal aliens convicted of violent crimes. This ban took effect upon her taking office in February 2024 but does not apply to local authorities.
Federal officials warn that sanctuary officials who obstruct ICE may face legal action under federal law, including 8 U.S.C. 1324 for harboring illegal aliens. White House aide Stephen Miller clarified that deportation from state custody is handled through a separate process and does not require judicial warrants.
