After Years on the Run, Convicted Child Sex Offender and Mexican Immigrant Arrested by ICE in Virginia

A persistent hunt for a dangerous individual has culminated in the arrest of Agustin Garcia Mendoza, a 41-year-old Mexican immigrant with a chilling criminal record, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Leesburg, Virginia. His apprehension brings to an end years of uncertainty after he was controversially released from local custody, despite an active ICE detainer, allowing him to remain at large in the community.

Mendoza's criminal history paints a disturbing picture.

In 2005, he was convicted of two counts of aggravated sexual battery of a child under 13, a horrific crime that led to a substantial sentence of 10 years in prison, followed by another decade of supervised release. Beyond these heinous offenses, Mendoza also carries a prior conviction for abduction, further underscoring the serious threat he posed to public safety.

The timeline of Mendoza's encounters with law enforcement and immigration authorities reveals a concerning lapse.

ICE had initially issued an immigration detainer for him in 2009, requesting that the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center notify ICE before his release and hold him for up to 48 hours to allow federal agents to take him into custody. However, this critical request was not honored. Instead, Mendoza was released from the local detention facility, effectively slipping through the cracks of the system.

It wasn't until 2011 that ICE learned of Mendoza's release, sparking a renewed effort to locate him.

A subsequent detainer was issued in 2012, yet for years, Mendoza's whereabouts remained unknown to federal authorities, leaving a convicted child sex offender free within the community. The recent arrest marks the successful culmination of a prolonged search, finally bringing Mendoza back into federal custody.

Louis Erby, director of ICE's Washington field office, reiterated the agency's steadfast commitment to public safety.

"When local law enforcement agencies fail to honor an immigration detainer and release a criminal alien onto the street, they are doing a disservice to the communities they are sworn to protect," Erby stated. This sentiment highlights the ongoing tension between federal immigration enforcement and some local jurisdictions regarding detainer policies, often framed around "sanctuary" debates.

Now, Agustin Garcia Mendoza will remain in ICE custody, awaiting the initiation of removal proceedings.

His arrest not only removes a dangerous individual from the streets but also serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges involved in ensuring accountability and public safety within the intricate landscape of immigration and criminal justice.