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| U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested an illegally present Honduran national after local authorities dropped his charges. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ) |
26-year-old Hyrum Baquedano-Rodriguez, who was residing in the U.S. illegally, was taken into custody by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) agents from the Washington, D.C. field office. According to authorities, Baquedano-Rodriguez had previously been convicted of several crimes in Virginia and was deemed a “significant threat to public safety.”
Though the court saw fit to drop his most recent charges, Hyrum Baquedano-Rodriguez represents a calamitous hazard to our Virginia residents,” said ERO Washington Field Office Director Russell Hott. “ICE will continue prioritizing the arrest and removal of such criminal offenders.
A Pattern of Crime and Release
Baquedano-Rodriguez first entered the U.S. illegally near Yuma, Arizona in August 2018 and was later released on an immigration bond by a DOJ immigration judge in January 2019. His criminal activity soon escalated:
- November 2021: Arrested in Fairfax County for indecent liberties, including exposing genitals to a child and indecent exposure.
- September 2022: Convicted of property damage with criminal intent; sentenced to 18 months in prison.
- October 2022: Convicted of disorderly conduct and contributing to the delinquency of a minor; received 12-month sentences for each.
- March 2023: Convicted again for property damage; sentenced to another 12 months.
In June 2024, a federal immigration judge in Annandale, VA, ordered Baquedano-Rodriguez removed from the U.S. to Honduras. But local legal processes delayed the action.
Then came May 2, 2025, when the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court dismissed the most severe charges: abduction with intent to defile and burglary with the intent to murder or rape. That same day, ICE agents acted swiftly to detain him.
Political Leaders Sound Alarm Over Recurring Cases
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin reiterated his administration’s commitment to public safety:
“Protecting Virginians has been a top priority from day one. I stand firmly with law enforcement to ensure our communities are safe,” he stated.
This is not an isolated incident. In April 2024, another Honduran national with child sex crime charges was repeatedly released by Fairfax County despite ICE detainer requests. ICE later arrested that individual in Maryland.
“When jurisdictions ignore ICE detainers, it jeopardizes public safety,” an ICE spokesperson said. “It puts victims, officers, and communities at risk.”
Homeland Security Responds
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, recently appointed under President Trump’s administration, reaffirmed her stance on immigration enforcement:
“We will continue fighting every day to secure our borders and protect American families. This is just the beginning of the Golden Age of America,” Noem posted on X (formerly Twitter).
A National Debate on Immigration Enforcement
The arrest of Baquedano-Rodriguez has reignited debate around sanctuary policies, ICE detainer non-compliance, and immigration court delays. Critics argue that repeated release of dangerous offenders due to local policies is endangering public safety.
As the national conversation on immigration intensifies, USSpotlight will continue to monitor and report on the impact of immigration enforcement policies in local communities.
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