The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Mar. 16 that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has requested Fairfax County, Virginia officials not to release Israel Christopher Flores-Ortiz, a 19-year-old from El Salvador who was arrested for nine counts of assault and battery. According to the DHS statement, Flores-Ortiz is accused of groping multiple underage girls while attending a local high school as an adult.
The case has drawn attention due to concerns about public safety and immigration enforcement policies. DHS said Flores-Ortiz entered the United States illegally in 2024 and was released into the country under current federal policies.
“This 19-year-old criminal illegal alien should NOT have been attending a Virginia high school and allowed to prey on innocent teenage girls. He now faces nine counts of assault and battery. This is yet another example of the Biden Administration’s failed open border policies,” said DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “We are calling on Fairfax County sanctuary politicians to NOT release this predator from jail back into our communities to assault more teenage women. Unfortunately, Governor Abigail Spanberger ended cooperation with ICE and is siding with criminal illegal aliens over American citizens.”
According to the statement, Governor Spanberger’s decision to end cooperation with ICE in Virginia has led to criminals being released back into communities rather than being transferred for possible deportation proceedings. The department said that when local law enforcement cannot work with DHS, federal officers must increase their presence in order to apprehend individuals released from jail.
DHS emphasized its ongoing efforts to protect communities from crime involving non-citizens and noted that victims of such crimes can seek support through the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office by contacting 1-855-488-6423.
The department concluded by stating its commitment to continue law enforcement operations aimed at arresting individuals who pose risks following their release from local custody.
