The Department of Homeland Security is urging Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger to prevent the release of a charged individual with a history of violent crimes. The individual in question, Juan Arevalo Mendez, is a 46-year-old twice-deported illegal immigrant from El Salvador who has been charged with rape and abduction in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Arevalo Mendez was arrested last week in Prince William County and has a lengthy criminal history that includes multiple convictions for assault, drug possession, and identity theft. He originally entered the country legally in 1991, but his status was revoked after his first conviction, and he was subsequently deported twice. Despite this, he illegally reentered the country on multiple occasions.
The Department of Homeland Security has lodged a detainer for Arevalo Mendez, requesting that Fairfax County officials hold him in custody until he can be taken into federal custody and deported. Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis has called on Governor Spanberger and local officials to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and prevent the release of Arevalo Mendez, citing concerns for public safety.
The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that Arevalo Mendez is currently in custody and that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been notified of his location. However, the department has faced criticism for its handling of similar cases in the past, with some advocacy groups accusing local officials of adopting a "sanctuary-style" approach to enforcement.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Fairfax County has experienced a significant number of serious crimes committed by illegal immigrants in recent months. The agency has detailed 17 alleged instances of such crimes in Virginia in 2026 alone, with nine of those cases taking place in Fairfax County. These incidents have led to calls for greater cooperation between local and federal authorities to address the issue of illegal immigrant crime.
The Department of Homeland Security has also criticized Governor Spanberger for terminating the state's 287(g) program, which partnered state and local law enforcement with federal immigration authorities. The agency suggests that this decision has contributed to the rise in illegal immigrant crime in the area.
In addition to the case of Arevalo Mendez, the Department of Homeland Security has also lodged detainers for several other illegal immigrants in Fairfax County who have been charged with serious crimes, including abduction, assault, and murder. These incidents have raised concerns about public safety and the need for more effective cooperation between local and federal authorities to address the issue of illegal immigrant crime.
