ICE arrests convicted child rapist released by Richmond jail after ignored detainer

Rick Martinez Lopez, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, was taken into custody by ICE on October 14. Officials say Martinez Lopez entered the United States unlawfully at an unknown time and location and was never inspected by an immigration officer.

According to DHS, Martinez Lopez has multiple convictions in Virginia, including sexual assault of a child, failure to register as a sex offender, and probation violation. Despite his criminal record, the Richmond City Jail released him in August after refusing to honor an ICE detainer.

“To allow a convicted pedophile, registered sex offender, illegal alien to freely roam Virginia streets is barbaric,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a public statement. “It is unconscionable to think sanctuary policies and political activists would rather protect this sicko than our own nation’s children. Every sanctuary politician in Virginia is putting the safety of Americans at risk with their dangerous and lawless policies.”

The refusal to honor ICE detainers has become increasingly common among sanctuary jurisdictions, which restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Such policies prevent ICE from taking custody of illegal immigrants with prior criminal convictions.

Back in September, DHS put California, New York, and Illinois on notice for failure to honor criminal illegal alien detainers. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons instructed state officials to respond whether they intended to honor ICE detainers on criminal illegal immigrants within their jurisdictions. Many jurisdictions, however, have yet to be cooperative.