The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) condemned the Fairfax County District Attorney’s Office on Apr. 6 for offering a five-year plea deal to Maldin Anibal Guzman-Videz and Luis Alonzo Sort-Portillo, who were convicted of murdering a man in Fairfax County in 2024. The DHS said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had requested that local officials not release the two men, both identified as illegal immigrants, from jail.
The case has drawn attention due to concerns about public safety and the handling of violent crime cases involving non-citizens. The DHS said that releasing individuals with serious criminal records could pose risks to communities.
According to local reports cited by DHS, Portillo and Guzman killed a man at a park and walking trail in Oakton, Virginia in July 2024. A community member discovered the victim’s body and alerted police. The department noted that Guzman had previously been issued a final order of removal by a judge in 2019 but remained in the country, allegedly committing additional crimes including assault, larceny, malicious wounding with a knife at a restaurant, failure to appear, and obstruction of justice.
ICE reportedly asked Fairfax officials several times not to release Guzman from jail but said those requests were denied. Portillo was identified as an illegal immigrant from El Salvador who entered the country at an unknown date.
“This 5-year sweetheart plea deal for murder is insane. This is yet another example of Fairfax sanctuary politicians siding with criminal illegal aliens over U.S. citizens,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “We are calling on Fairfax County sanctuary politicians and Governor Abigail Spanberger to commit to not releasing these murderers from jail back into our communities. How many more times must they release criminals into our neighborhoods to create more innocent victims?”
The press release also referenced other recent cases involving non-citizens charged with violent crimes in Virginia this year.
