The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has criticized Fairfax County’s sanctuary policies after an incident in which Marvin Fernando Morales-Ortez, a Salvadoran national living illegally in the United States, was released from jail and then allegedly committed murder the following day.
According to DHS, Morales-Ortez was arrested for assault and brandishing a firearm on September 14, 2025. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) filed an arrest detainer at that time, but county officials did not honor it and released him back into the community.
Morales-Ortez reportedly had previous arrests including aggravated assault of a police officer, larceny, and disorderly conduct. He entered the country illegally in 2016 with his mother near Hidalgo, Texas. The Obama administration allowed him to remain in the United States after his entry. In 2022, immigration proceedings against him were dismissed by the Biden administration, which categorized him as a non-enforcement priority.
On December 17, 2025, local police responded to a shooting at a residence in Reston, Virginia. Morales-Ortez is accused of killing a man inside the home before fleeing the scene. A manhunt ensued for several hours during which nearby schools were placed on lockdown. He was later apprehended and charged with second-degree murder and firearms violations.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated: “There is blood on the hands of Fairfax County politicians for pushing policies that released this illegal alien from jail and onto the streets of Virginia. Fairfax County refused to honor ICE’s detainer and release him into their custody. Just hours after being released from jail, he committed murder in cold blood. Sanctuary policies have deadly consequences. We pray for the victim and his family.”
DHS also noted that its law enforcement personnel continue efforts to protect communities across America from similar incidents involving individuals unlawfully present in the country who commit crimes after release due to sanctuary policies.
Support services are available through DHS’s Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office at 1-855-488-6423 for those affected by crimes committed by individuals unlawfully present in the U.S.
