U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials confirmed Monday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has issued an immigration detainer for an El Salvadoran national accused of attacking a woman in Loudoun County, Virginia.
The request stems from an incident on July 15 along a walking trail in Loudoun County. According to local law enforcement reports, an unidentified woman was approached from behind by a man who grabbed her neck and pulled her hair before she was able to free herself and escape.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office subsequently identified the suspect as Rolando Sanchez Velazquez, who entered the United States without legal authorization at an undisclosed location and date.
Deputies arrested Velazquez on July 22, and he currently faces formal charges of abduction along with assault and battery.
ICE lodged a detainer for Velazquez with Loudoun County authorities on the day of his arrest, requesting that local officials hold him in custody rather than releasing him on bond or after local proceedings conclude, allowing federal authorities to take custody for removal proceedings.
“This illegal alien attacked a woman while she was walking in a park, and now faces charges of abduction and assault and battery,” Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a released statement. “ICE is requesting that Governor Abigail Spanberger and her fellow sanctuary politicians commit to not releasing this criminal from jail and turn him over to ICE so we can remove him from our country.”
The detainer request comes amid broader policy disagreements between federal immigration officials and Virginia state leadership regarding local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration detainers.
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