ICE Arrests Convicted Child Sex Offender Released by Fairfax County

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 21-year-old Guatemalan national Ander Cortez-Mendez in Falls Church, Virginia, after local authorities released him despite a federal detainer request. Cortez-Mendez had illegally entered the U.S. in 2018 and was later convicted of sexual intercourse with a minor in May 2024, receiving a three-month suspended sentence from a Fairfax County judge. The Fairfax County Adult Detention Center ignored ICE's request to hold him for deportation, allowing him to remain in the community. Critics have raised concerns over the handling of Cortez-Mendez's case, questioning the leniency of the judicial system in dealing with illegal aliens accused of serious crimes. ICE officials reiterated their commitment to removing criminal aliens from the streets, emphasizing the need to protect community safety. The case has sparked a debate over sanctuary policies and their implications for public safety.