Illegal Migrant Accused of Groping Students Could Be Spared Deportation in Virginia
An illegal migrant accused of groping multiple girls at a Virginia high school might avoid deportation due to the state's sanctuary policies, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Israel Flores Ortiz, 18, was charged on March 7 with nine counts of assault and battery after approximately a dozen students at Fairfax High School, located 15 miles west of Washington, DC, accused him of grabbing their crotches.
He just sneakily walked up behind them and put his hand in between their legs, one victim's parent, who chose to remain anonymous, told 7News. Despite being nearly 19 years old, Ortiz was enrolled in the 11th grade. ICE reports that he entered the United States illegally from El Salvador in 2024.
Sanctuary Policies Hinder Deportation Efforts
Following his arrest, Ortiz was not deported and was instead released by the Biden administration. The Fairfax County Sheriff's Department, led by Sheriff Stacey Kinkaid, has since rejected requests from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for a detainer to place him in ICE custody. An ICE spokesperson criticized sanctuary politicians, including Governor Abigail Spanberger, for outlawing cooperation with ICE.
Unfortunately, sanctuary politicians like Gov. Spanberger are outlawing cooperation with ICE and choosing to RELEASE criminal illegal aliens from their jails back onto their communities to create more American victims, the spokesperson said. We are calling on Fairfax County to honor our detainer to ensure this violent criminal is removed from our country so he can never claim another victim again.
An immigration detainer typically asks law enforcement to notify ICE before releasing an undocumented immigrant and hold them for an additional 48 hours so DHS can assume custody. Governor Spanberger, who has spearheaded anti-deportation efforts in Virginia, has faced criticism for her progressive policies, including executive orders reducing police cooperation with ICE.
Parental Outcry and School Response
Many parents in Fairfax County have expressed outrage over the handling of the case, with some assembling at the courthouse to voice concerns about student safety. I think from the very beginning, Fairfax County has attempted to diminish what happened to these girls, a parent said, describing the county's approach as abysmal.
The Fairfax County School District issued a letter on March 12 referring to Ortiz's alleged actions as a student touching students' buttocks. However, parents disputed this characterization, with one stating, It was not just a butt smack or a butt grab. It was a groping of a private area. It had been occurring for several months.
While a judge denied Ortiz's bail request, parents remain worried that he could re-enter the school system if released, especially since local authorities have not pursued deportation. Ortiz's charges are classified as misdemeanors, potentially resulting in only a year of imprisonment.
I feel like this seems like a crime of someone that will escalate ... if it's not handled properly, a parent commented. And that's been my concern.
The Daily Mail contacted Governor Spanberger's office and the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office for comment, but responses were not provided at the time of reporting.
