A twice-deported Honduran migrant, identified as David Cabrera, was recently released under sanctuary-like policies in Virginia, sparking renewed scrutiny of Democrat-led sanctuary jurisdictions that restrict cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Cabrera initially entered the U.S. illegally in 2014, was convicted of felony rape in 2015, and sentenced to over seven years in prison, though part of his sentence was suspended. After serving his term, he remained in ICE custody in 2017 and was deported to Guatemala. He has since re-entered the U.S. at least three times. The last deportation occurred in 2020, but he managed to come back once more and re-offend.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons sharply criticized the release, stating, “This is the whole reason why sanctuary jurisdictions do not keep America safe… It lets criminals back on the street to reoffend again. If Arlington had cooperated, we could have arrested him in a secure facility — instead, our agents had to track him down in the community, where they could have encountered others.”
Video obtained by Fox News shows Cabrera walking freely on a public street before ICE agents arrested him. Federal officials argue that sanctuary-like restrictions in places like Arlington prevented preemptive arrest in secure settings such as prisons or probation offices, enabling his release back into the community .
Cabrera’s repeated illegal border crossings, felony rape conviction, and release under sanctuary-limited policies have been seized upon by Republicans to spotlight dangers they claim result from leniency in immigration enforcement. The case has intensified partisan debate and could fuel policy changes aimed at limiting sanctuary protections.
