DHS Releases Statement After Illegal Alien Sentenced for Child Pornography in Virginia

 News Release

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Office of Public Affairs

DHS Releases Statement After Illegal Alien Sentenced for Child Pornography in Virginia ICE arrested this illegal alien after sanctuary politicians in Fairfax County refused to honor the detainer and RELEASED him into their community WASHINGTON – The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after an illegal alien was sentenced to six years in prison for child pornography in Fairfax County, Virginia. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced on September 16 that Roni Mendez-Escobar, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was sentenced to six years and five months in prison after he had been convicted for receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and illegally re-entering the United States. Roni Mendez-Escobar Mendez-Escobar was first arrested in October 2025, with ICE lodging a detainer on October 23. However, sanctuary politicians in Fairfax County refused to honor the detainer and released Mendez-Escobar on October 27 without notifying ICE. ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested Mendez-Escobar on April 22, 2026, after a court appearance. In January 2026, HSI Washington D.C. and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Chantilly partnered to investigate Mendez-Escobar. HSI led the investigation into his crimes against children while ERO led the investigation into his immigration violations. “This illegal alien was sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of child pornography and illegal re-entry,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “When ICE lodged a detainer for him after his arrest in October 2025, sanctuary politicians in Fairfax County, Virginia refused to honor it and RELEASED him into their community. Fortunately, their attempts to protect this pedophile failed and ICE arrested him several months later. Now he will be behind bars where he belongs, and when he finishes his sentence, ICE will be ready to deport him so he can never threaten another American child.” Mendez-Escobar illegally entered the United States and was deported THREE times in 2015, before illegally entering the country for a fourth time at an unknown date and location. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by President Donald J. Trump with Executive Order 14159.

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