Federal officials are condemning Fairfax County, Virginia, after a Salvadoran illegal alien released despite an ICE detainer was charged with murdering a man less than a day later. The Department of Homeland Security says the killing was entirely preventable and occurred only because local authorities refused to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
The suspect, Marvin Fernando Morales‑Ortez, was released by the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office even though Immigration and Customs Enforcement had lodged a detainer requesting he be held for transfer into federal custody. ICE officials say Morales‑Ortez allegedly murdered a man in Reston, Virginia, the very next day.
DHS officials accused Fairfax County leaders of prioritizing sanctuary-style policies over public safety. “Fairfax County failed the victim by refusing to work with ICE and releasing this criminal alien onto Virginia streets instead of safely into ICE custody,” federal officials said.
ICE placed the detainer after identifying Morales‑Ortez as a repeat offender with a lengthy criminal history. According to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, his record includes assault, assault against law enforcement, and brandishing a firearm. Officials said Morales‑Ortez has faced at least seven criminal cases since 2020, including a previous murder charge that was later dismissed.
Despite that history, Fairfax County released Morales‑Ortez once local charges were dismissed, claiming ICE failed to provide a judicial warrant. County officials argued that under their policies, they could not hold him any longer.
Federal officials strongly rejected that explanation. A DHS spokesperson said the claim was an attempt to deflect responsibility and emphasized that ICE detainers do not require a judicial warrant to be honored. Detainers are routinely enforced across most of the country, with sanctuary jurisdictions being the primary exception.
“This is nothing more than sanctuary politicians trying to pass the blame for their refusal to protect American citizens,” the DHS spokesperson said. “They should have turned this serial criminal illegal alien over to ICE. Instead, they released him back into Virginia neighborhoods.”
Police later identified the murder victim as Marvin Ernesto Morale, a Reston resident with no relation to the accused killer. The case has reignited national debate over sanctuary policies and the consequences of local governments refusing to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
Under President Trump, DHS has renewed its focus on holding jurisdictions accountable for ignoring ICE detainers, arguing that such policies place law-abiding Americans at unnecessary risk.
