Illegal migrant caught at the border and released, convicted of sex crimes against Virginia child

An illegal Bolivian immigrant was arrested by ICE officials in Virginia following a series of alleged sex crimes against children.

According to Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Washington, DC, Jose Fabricio Veizaga-Vargas, 36, was arrested on August 19 in Annandale, Virginia.

Fox News confirmed that the migrant from Bolivia entered the United States illegally through Texas in April 2023, where he was caught and released. ERO noted that Veizaga had received a summons to appear before a Justice Department immigration judge at a later date.

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ICE deportation agents stationed in Washington, DC arrested an illegal Bolivian immigrant who was caught and released at the Texas border in 2023 and later convicted of sexually abusing a child in Virginia. (Enforcement and deportation measures)

According to ERO, the 36-year-old was classified as a convicted sex offender after attacking a child in Virginia.

“Jose Fabricio Veizaga-Vargas is a convicted sex offender who abused a minor in Northern Virginia,” said Liana Castano, ERO Washington, DC Field Office Director. “We cannot allow such an obvious danger to threaten the children of our community. ERO Washington, DC will continue to make public safety our highest priority by apprehending and removing serious non-citizen offenders from our Washington, DC and Virginia neighborhoods.”

This month, he was also charged with seven counts of possession of child pornography and obscene material involving a minor.

A local jurisdiction refused to honor three immigration arrest warrants and released a convicted sex offender from custody. (Enforcement and deportation measures)

After his conviction, he was sentenced to six months in prison, but the court suspended the sentence, according to ERO.

Later that day, ERO announced that the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center refused to comply with an immigration order and released Veizaga from custody without notice.

Fairfax County police arrested Veizaga on August 15 and charged him with seven counts of possession of child pornography and possession of obscene material involving a minor.

Following this arrest, ERO Washington, DC again requested an immigration arrest warrant for Veizaga at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, but officials refused to comply and again released him.

WHICH CITIES, COUNTIES AND STATES IN THE U.S. ARE SANCTUARY JURISDICTIONS?

On August 19, officers from ERO Washington, DC Fugitive Operations Team arrested Veizaga in Annandale.

The ERO Washington, DC, has served a custody order on Veizaga and he remains in their custody.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters on July 6, 2018 in Washington, DC (Getty Images)

Washington, DC is considered a “sanctuary city” with a policy of not cooperating with ICE detention officers.

If ICE believes that a deportable illegal immigrant has been arrested on a crime, it will issue a warrant, which is a request to notify ICE before the immigrant is released from custody.

However, Protected area jurisdictions generally do not respect arrest warrants, sometimes arguing that it is not their responsibility and that their actions have a chilling effect on immigrant-community relations.

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“When law enforcement fails to respect immigration arrest warrants and release serious offenders onto the streets, it undermines ICE’s ability to protect public safety and fulfill its mission,” warns the ICE website.

Fox News Digital has contacted ICE for comment.

Adam Shaw of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.