The United States Department of Homeland Security announced on June 2 that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer asking sanctuary politicians in Prince William County, Virginia, not to release Cristian Romario Saenz-Argueta, an illegal alien from El Salvador charged with raping a girl under the age of 15.
According to local reports, police in Manassas, Virginia, arrested Saenz-Argueta on May 26. Authorities said the 31-year-old used social media to connect with a girl under the age of 15 while falsely portraying himself as 18 years old. He later arranged an in-person meeting with her in November 2025 at a parking lot where he allegedly sexually assaulted her.
Saenz-Argueta faces three felony charges: one count of rape by force, threat, or intimidation and two counts of carnal knowledge of a child between the ages of 13 and 14. “This sick illegal alien from El Salvador now faces three felony charges for raping a girl under the age of 15,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “DHS is asking sanctuary politicians in Prince William County, Virginia, to not release this pedophile from jail and cooperate with ICE law enforcement. Due to the reckless policies of Governor Abigail Spanberger and her fellow sanctuary politicians, Virginia has become a magnet for criminal illegal aliens who know that they’ll be protected in this state. How many more innocent victims have to be hurt by illegal aliens before Governor Spanberger cooperates with ICE law enforcement?”
Officials said Saenz-Argueta entered the country illegally at an unknown date and location, returned to El Salvador in 2022, then re-entered the United States illegally—a felony—at another unknown date and location.
The statement referenced executive orders signed by Governor Abigail Spanberger during her first days in office banning state cooperation with ICE and terminating certain state and local agreements known as 287(g). The department also cited other recent cases involving individuals described as illegal aliens charged or convicted for serious crimes across various counties in Virginia.