A Honduran national, Marvin Mateo-Alberto, is currently being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a series of events involving prior legal orders and local policy disagreements.
Mateo-Alberto initially entered the United States without authorization in October 2005 near Eagle Pass, Texas, and was subsequently issued a notice to appear before an immigration judge. In April 2006, a Justice Department judge ordered his deportation from the country.
Despite this order, Mateo-Alberto remained in the U.S., where he was arrested in January by the Fairfax County Police Department on serious charges including incest involving a minor and aggravated sexual battery. This led to ICE placing a detainer—a request for law enforcement to hold an individual pending immigration proceedings—with the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
However, according to an ICE statement, the detention center did not honor this ICE detainer and released Mateo-Alberto fifteen days after his arrest.
Fairfax County asserts it is *not* a sanctuary county, stating on its website that it “complies to the fullest extent required by federal, state or local law with any law enforcement agency requesting criminal law enforcement assistance.” Nevertheless, the policy explicitly states that the county “does not and will not enforce civil federal immigration laws,” citing a belief that enforcement of these laws is solely the responsibility of the federal government.
After being held in the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, Mateo-Alberto was ultimately taken into custody by ICE on April 10th and remains in their possession.
As stated by Russell Hott, Director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Washington, D.C., Field Office:
> “Marvin Mateo-Alberto stands accused of some very appalling and disturbing crimes and represents a threat to the children of our Virginia communities.”
Hott further emphasized ICE’s commitment to public safety, stating:
> “We cannot in good conscience allow Mr. Mateo to continue to potentially threaten other children in our neighborhoods. ICE Washington, D.C. will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien threats from our streets.”
The situation highlights the complexities of immigration enforcement and the differing roles of federal and local authorities concerning undocumented individuals with a history of criminal charges.
