ICE Arrests Honduran National in Virginia After Dismissed Charges

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents apprehended Hyrum Baquedano-Rodriguez, a 26-year-old Honduran national illegally present in the United States, after local authorities in Fairfax County, Virginia, dismissed a series of charges against him, including child abduction and home invasion. The arrest, which occurred on May 2, marks another instance of conflict between federal immigration authorities and local jurisdictions over the handling of criminal aliens.

According to a news release from ICE, Baquedano-Rodriguez was taken into custody in Fairfax, Virginia, by agents from the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C., Field Office. The arrest followed the dismissal of several serious charges against Baquedano-Rodriguez by a Fairfax County court.

Russell Hott, Field Office Director for ICE ERO Washington, D.C., expressed strong condemnation of Baquedano-Rodriguez’s criminal history and the perceived failure of local authorities to address the threat he posed to the community. "Though the court saw fit to drop his most recent charges, Hyrum Baquedano-Rodriguez has been convicted of numerous crimes in Virginia and represents a calamitous hazard to our Virginia residents," Hott stated. He emphasized ICE’s commitment to prioritizing public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien offenders from Washington, D.C., and Virginia communities.

The charges against Baquedano-Rodriguez include abduction of a person with intent to defile and burglary, entering a house to murder, rape, etc. ICE officials highlighted that each conviction represents another victim of Baquedano-Rodriguez’s criminal behavior.

The case has ignited a renewed debate over sanctuary policies and the cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. Critics argue that policies that limit cooperation with ICE allow dangerous criminals to remain in communities, posing a threat to public safety. Supporters of such policies contend that they are necessary to build trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement, encouraging immigrants to report crimes without fear of deportation.

This is not the first time Fairfax County has faced scrutiny for its handling of cases involving criminal aliens. Last April, a similar incident occurred when Fairfax County repeatedly released a Honduran national charged with sex crimes and ignored an ICE detainer request. The 30-year-old Honduran national was eventually arrested by immigration officials at his residence in Bladensburg, Maryland, on April 15, after Fairfax County had released him twice.

ICE officials emphasized the dangers of non-cooperation between local jurisdictions and federal immigration authorities. "This Honduran noncitizen stands accused of some very serious crimes and represented a threat to the children of the Washington, D.C. area," ICE stated. "When local jurisdictions have policies in place which prohibit them from cooperating with ICE ERO and from honoring our lawfully issued detainers and administrative warrants, they put the suspects, law enforcement officers, and most importantly, the members of our local communities at risk."

The timeline of Baquedano-Rodriguez’s interactions with U.S. law enforcement and immigration authorities reveals a series of encounters and releases that have raised questions about the effectiveness of the current system.

Baquedano-Rodriguez was first arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents on August 25, 2018, after illegally entering the United States near Yuma, Arizona. He was subsequently released on an immigration bond by a DOJ immigration judge in Eloy, Arizona, on January 22, 2019.

On November 9, 2021, Fairfax County police arrested Baquedano-Rodriguez and charged him with three counts of indecent liberties, including exposing genitals to a child and indecent exposure.

In September 2022, he was convicted of entering property with intent to damage by a Fairfax County General District Court and sentenced to 18 months in prison and imposed restitution. Less than two weeks later, the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court convicted him of disorderly conduct and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, sentencing him to 12 months in prison for each conviction.

In March 2023, Baquedano-Rodriguez was convicted again of entering property with intent to damage by the Fairfax County General District Court and sentenced to 12 months in prison.

In June 2024, a DOJ immigration judge in Annandale, Virginia, ordered Baquedano-Rodriguez removed from the United States to Honduras.

On May 2, 2025, the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court dismissed Baquedano-Rodriguez’s charges for abduction of a person with intent to defile and burglary: entering a house to murder, rape, etc. Later that same day, ICE officers arrested him in Fairfax, Virginia, and served him with a warrant of removal.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has weighed in on the matter, emphasizing the importance of protecting Virginians. "Protecting Virginians has been a top priority of our administration since day one, and it should be a priority for every leader at the federal, state and local level," Youngkin said. He expressed gratitude to law enforcement officers for their work in keeping Virginians and Americans safe, and reiterated his support for them.

The Department of Homeland Security also confirmed the arrest and said Baquedano-Rodriguez remains in ICE custody. The agency shared a post on X, stating, "MAKING AMERICA SAFE AGAIN: @ICEgov arrested Hyrum Baquedano-Rodriguez, an illegal alien, after a Fairfax County court dropped charges for abduction of a person with intent to defile and burglary. This child sexual predator will remain in ICE custody pending his removal."

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem vowed to continue fighting to secure the border. "100 days ago, I took an oath to serve this country as Secretary of Homeland Security. I will continue fighting every day alongside President Donald Trump to secure our border and keep American communities safe. This is just the beginning of the Golden Age of America. God bless this great country," Noem wrote in a post on X.

The Baquedano-Rodriguez case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges and complexities surrounding immigration enforcement and the role of local jurisdictions in maintaining public safety. It highlights the need for clear communication, cooperation, and effective policies to ensure that dangerous criminals are held accountable and that communities are protected. The case is ongoing, and Baquedano-Rodriguez remains in ICE custody pending his removal from the United States.