Violent Criminals Protected by Sanctuary Laws

Police officer with patrol car and flashing lights.

Two illegal alien killers remain beyond ICE’s reach as sanctuary jurisdictions deliberately obstruct federal detainers, enabling murderers to evade deportation even after confessing to heinous crimes.

Story Highlights

ICE cannot obtain custody of two illegal alien murderers due to sanctuary policies in Virginia and New York
Marvin Morales-Ortez killed a Reston resident one day after Fairfax County released him despite an active ICE detainer
Santos Vasquez Ramirez confessed to strangling cab driver Aurelio Zhunio-Orbez over a fare dispute in New York
Fairfax County previously released over 1,000 criminal aliens, including those with homicide charges

Sanctuary Policies Shield Violent Criminals≠

Marvin Fernando Morales-Ortez, an El Salvadoran national, allegedly murdered a Reston resident on December 17, 2025, just one day after Fairfax County released him from custody. ICE had lodged a detainer for Morales-Ortez on September 14, 2025, following his arrest for assault and brandishing a firearm, but county officials ignored the federal request. This pattern reflects a deliberate sanctuary policy that prioritizes protecting illegal aliens over public safety.

Pattern of Criminal Releases Continues

Fairfax County Adult Detention Center released over 1,000 criminal aliens from October 2022 to February 2025, including those with homicide charges. Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano previously dropped murder charges against Morales-Ortez and is reportedly being considered for a state-level position. This demonstrates how progressive prosecutors actively undermine immigration enforcement while advancing their own political careers at the expense of community safety.

Second Murder Case Emerges in New York

Santos Vasquez Ramirez, a Guatemalan national, confessed to strangling and robbing cab driver Aurelio Zhunio-Orbez over a fare dispute in early December 2025. The victim’s body was discovered in Croton Falls Reservoir after an investigation led by Putnam County Sheriff Brian Hess. ICE filed a detainer for Ramirez the weekend before December 21, 2025, but New York authorities have not honored the federal request, following their established sanctuary jurisdiction practices.

Federal Officials Condemn Deadly Sanctuary Policies

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the failures, stating that “Santos Vasquez Ramirez should’ve never been in our country” and that “open border policies have deadly consequences.” These cases exemplify how sanctuary jurisdictions actively obstruct immigration enforcement, creating safe havens for criminal aliens while endangering law-abiding Americans. The Trump administration faces an uphill battle against entrenched leftist policies that prioritize illegal aliens over citizen safety.

ICE Seeks Custody of Illegal Alien Killers in Sanctuary Districtshttps://t.co/FL7IHvEN8f

— PJ Media (@PJMedia_com) December 21, 2025

ICE recorded over 25,000 declined detainers nationwide from 2022-2025, with California accounting for 52% of refusals and Virginia contributing 1,601 declined detainers. These staggering numbers reveal the scope of sanctuary obstruction undermining federal immigration law enforcement across Democrat-controlled jurisdictions.