Federal immigration officers removed a convicted child sex offender from Virginia after warning that Governor Abigail Spanberger’s policies risked keeping criminals on the street.
Story Highlights
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Marcelo Vasquez-Reyna after his Virginia conviction for indecent liberties with a child.
- Department of Homeland Security urged Virginia to transfer custody and criticized “sanctuary” moves that weaken cooperation.
- Governor Spanberger rejected the “sanctuary” label and said violent criminals without legal status should be deported.
- Virginia law classifies indecent liberties with a child as a Class 5 felony.
ICE Removes Convicted Offender After Albemarle County Case
Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Marcelo Vasquez-Reyna, a Mexican national convicted in Albemarle County, Virginia, of indecent liberties with a child. Local reporting cited the Department of Homeland Security saying ICE arrested him on March 24 and that he has now been removed from the United States. Virginia law says indecent liberties with a child under 15 is a Class 5 felony, highlighting the seriousness of the offense under state code. This removal follows a state court case dated October 16, 2025, in Albemarle County.
Department of Homeland Security communications have stressed a focus on removing violent offenders and predators who threaten families. Recent federal releases highlighted similar arrests of child sex offenders and other dangerous criminals, underscoring a public safety approach that targets the “worst of the worst” for removal action. In this case, the federal government says the offender’s conviction, arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and subsequent deportation serve that stated priority.
DHS Presses Virginia on Cooperation; Spanberger Pushes Back
On July 27, the Department of Homeland Security publicly asked Governor Abigail Spanberger and Virginia officials not to release this criminal back into the community and to transfer him to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal. That message argued that state and local coordination is vital to protect residents. Fox News and other outlets reported federal criticism of “sanctuary” policies they say let offenders return to the streets when jurisdictions do not cooperate. These federal warnings framed the Virginia case as a test of cooperation.
Governor Spanberger rejected the “sanctuary state” label and called reports that Virginia agencies could not work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement “an absolute lie”. She has also said that any violent criminal without legal status should be prosecuted and then deported, “full stop”. Coverage also noted that her administration changed how state police coordinate with federal immigration authorities, drawing sharp federal pushback even as she maintained she supports deporting violent offenders who lack legal status.
Why Cooperation Matters for Public Safety
Federal officers said the safest path is simple: when jails hold criminal noncitizens, transfer them directly to Immigration and Customs Enforcement so removal can proceed. That handoff prevents release back into neighborhoods and limits the chance of new victims. The Albemarle County case shows how that chain can work when authorities coordinate. The end result here was a completed deportation after a serious child sex offense conviction under Virginia law.
Conservatives see a clear line: secure the border, back the cops, and remove criminal offenders fast. The Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security says it is doing exactly that, and it wants every state to help. Virginia’s debate under Governor Spanberger shows why details matter. Words about public safety must match actions that put Immigration and Customs Enforcement in position to remove offenders before they can reoffend. Families deserve nothing less.
Sources:
redstate.com, wjla.com, law.lis.virginia.gov
