DHS Faults Spanberger After Virginia Toddler’s Death
The Department of Homeland Security is criticizing Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger after local law enforcement cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement led to the arrest of a Mexican national accused in the death of a 2-year-old girl.
Raul Genesis Ortiz Moran faces charges of murder and aggravated sexual battery. Authorities say the case began in rural Louisa County, located between Richmond and Charlottesville.
The child’s mother reportedly brought the injured girl to a sheriff’s office in neighboring Goochland County. Deputies tried to resuscitate the toddler, but she later died.
Goochland and Louisa County authorities contacted ICE, which quickly took Ortiz Moran into federal custody. Louisa County Sheriff Donald Lowe told a Richmond-area ABC affiliate that he feared the suspect might flee.
“This horrific tragedy was completely avoidable because this illegal alien should have never been in our country. Governor Spanberger’s sanctuary policies have made Virginia a hotbed for illegal alien crime,” Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis told Fox News Digital.
Bis also said, “This monster sexually assaulted and murdered a 2-year-old girl in Virginia.”
“Thanks to the cooperation of our local law enforcement partners, this killer is off the streets and will face justice for his crimes,” she added.
DHS connected the case to Spanberger’s decision to rescind former Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s 287(g) agreement on her first day in office. The agreement allowed ICE to work more closely with Virginia State Police, state corrections officials, and fish and game wardens.
Spanberger’s office rejected any suggestion that the state is refusing to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. A spokesperson said the governor “strongly believes violent criminals who are in the United States illegally should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and deported.”
The spokesperson also said Virginia’s Department of Corrections continues notifying ICE when people born outside the United States are in state custody. State law enforcement agencies, the spokesperson said, continue participating in task forces and working with federal agencies.
“Under Governor Spanberger’s leadership, the Virginia Department of Corrections continues the long-standing practice of notifying ICE when individuals born outside of the United States are in state custody. Virginia state law enforcement agencies also continue to participate in task forces and interagency cooperation with federal agencies.”
Louisa County Sheriff Donald Lowe described the incident as an “unimaginable tragedy” and said his deputies would “thoroughly investigate” the case. Goochland County Sheriff Steve Creasy praised the deputies who attempted to save the child and said his office would help other authorities as needed.
DHS said the case is part of a broader series of incidents it has cited since Spanberger took office. Those cases include:
- Juan Arevalo Mendez, an El Salvadoran national who faced rape and abduction charges in Fairfax County. ICE lodged a detainer after his arrest in June.
- Samuel Flores de Dios, a Mexican national sentenced to 30 years in prison in Fredericksburg on charges involving the production of child sexual abuse material.
- Other cases involving charges such as indecent exposure, abduction with intent to defile, carjacking, assault, and robbery.
Many of the cases cited by ICE occurred in Democrat-controlled jurisdictions, including Fairfax County, Prince William County, Loudoun County, and Newport News.
The cases have increased pressure on Spanberger and Democratic commonwealth’s attorneys to cooperate with ICE. Some Virginia jurisdictions are also facing scrutiny from Congress over their handling of immigration enforcement requests.