Three men arrested in Virginia child exploitation sting released on bond despite ICE detainers

Three of the nine men arrested during an undercover child exploitation operation in Fairfax County, Virginia, are undocumented immigrants with previous encounters with immigration authorities and criminal records, according to the Department of Homeland Security. All three have since been released on secured bonds.

Police announced Wednesday that the suspects allegedly held sexually explicit online conversations with undercover detectives posing as minors before travelling to Fairfax County for planned encounters.

DHS identified the three men as Reyben Leono Sanchez Hernandez, 21, and Wilmer Alexander Aguilar Cruz, 28, both from El Salvador, as well as Henry Adalberto Flores Herrera, 39.

According to the department, the men had previously been apprehended while entering the United States illegally and were later released. DHS did not specify how Flores Herrera entered the country.

Previous allegations and arrests

DHS said Aguilar Cruz’s criminal history includes allegations involving computer solicitation of a child, indecent liberties, proposed sexual acts, sodomy, extortion and threats to burn.

Police in Prince William County arrested him on April 27, 2019, on charges of threatening to bomb or burn and making a written threat.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Aguilar Cruz two days later, according to DHS, but he was released on bond on August 9, 2019.

ICE subsequently lodged a detainer with the Fairfax County Detention Center on July 31. Local authorities said Aguilar Cruz was nevertheless released after posting a $3,000 secured bond.

Flores Herrera’s reported criminal history includes felony solicitation of prostitution from a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, driving under the influence and a traffic offence.

ICE placed a detainer on him at the Fairfax County Detention Center on July 17. He was later released on a $5,000 secured bond.

The information provided by DHS did not include comparable details about Sanchez Hernandez’s previous criminal allegations or the amount of his bond.

DHS criticises state and local immigration policies

DHS attributed the releases and presence of the three men in Fairfax County to past federal immigration practices and local policies limiting cooperation with immigration authorities.

A department spokesperson criticised former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as former Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming their policies allowed millions of insufficiently vetted undocumented immigrants into American communities.

The spokesperson said the Trump administration and Secretary Mullin were enforcing immigration laws and reversing what the department described as a “catch and release” policy.

DHS also called on Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger to strengthen cooperation with ICE and transfer detained undocumented immigrants to federal custody.

The department criticised executive orders signed during Spanberger’s first days in office that it said restricted state cooperation with ICE and ended state and local agreements under the federal 287(g) programme.

DHS urged the governor to prioritise public safety by allowing ICE to assume custody of immigrants sought by the agency.