DHS asks Virginia to turn over illegal migrant, alleged student who allegedly groped female students

The Department of Homeland Security is asking Fairfax County, Virginia, to turn over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement an illegal immigrant who has been charged in connection with groping female high school students.

"Fairfax County, Virginia: 19-year-old Illegal Alien ADULT attended local high school and GROPED multiple high school girls," DHS posted on X on Monday.

"Israel Christopher Flores-Ortiz, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador RELEASED into the country by the Biden Administration, was arrested for NINE counts of assault and battery. He repeatedly creeped up behind female students in crowded hallways and grabbed them between the legs. Despite @GovernorVA ending cooperation with ICE, we will continue fighting to ensure Virginia sanctuary politicians do NOT release predators like Flores-Ortiz back into our communities."

Flores-Ortiz illegally entered the U.S. in 2024 and was released, according to DHS. Despite his age, he is in eleventh grade at Fairfax High School in Virginia, the Daily Signal reported.

“This 19-year-old should NOT have been attending a Virginia high school and allowed to prey on innocent teenage girls,” DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement. “This is yet another example of the Biden administration’s failed open border policies.”

“We are calling on Fairfax County sanctuary politicians to NOT release this predator from jail back into our communities to assault more teenage women,” she added. “Unfortunately, Governor [Abigail] Spanberger ended cooperation with ICE and is siding with criminal illegal aliens over American citizens.”

A mother of one of Flores-Ortiz's victims told local TV station 7News, “There’s a group of about 12 individuals that have reported this assault,” adding that the groping had been happening for several months.

Flores-Ortiz requested to be released from jail on bail, to which Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano’s office agreed.

On Friday, Judge Dipti Pidikiti-Smith denied the request, saying it did not adequately protect the public.

DHS logged an ICE detainer for Flores-Ortiz, asking the county to turn him over for deportation upon his release.

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed an executive directive in February rolling back cooperation policies between Virginia state and local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.

“Governor Spanberger’s decision to end cooperation with ICE in Virginia has allowed criminals to be released back into American communities,” DHS also says.

Spanberger’s office and the county's public schools didn't respond to Daily Signal requests for comment.