WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged an immigration detainer asking officials in Fairfax County, Virginia to not release from jail a Salvadoran national arrested on rape and abduction charges, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
According to DHS, citing local reporting, Juan Arevalo Mendez was arrested on June 30 in Prince William County. He has been charged with rape – strongarm and kidnap adult with intent to sexually assault in connection with an assault in September 2025 in Falls Church, according to the department. ICE lodged a detainer for Mendez the same day he was arrested, DHS said.
According to DHS, Mendez has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 1998, which includes prior convictions for assault, aggravated assault – weapon, strongarm aggravated assault – non-family, aggravated assault with a gun – non-family, drug possession, destruction of property, illegal re-entry, obstructing justice, and making a false report, as well as prior arrests for identity theft, drug possession, and larceny.
“This criminal illegal alien has been charged with rape and abduction. He has a laundry list of prior convictions for aggravated assault, destruction of property, and drug possession, as well as prior arrests for identity theft and larceny,” Acting Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement. “DHS is calling on Governor Abigail Spanberger and her fellow sanctuary politicians in Fairfax County to commit to not releasing this dangerous criminal from jail, and to instead turn him over to ICE custody so that we can remove him from our nation and end his crime spree in our country. Virginia sanctuary politicians need to stop playing Russian roulette with American lives and work with ICE law enforcement to keep criminals out of our communities.”
According to DHS, Mendez first entered the United States as a lawful permanent resident in 1991, but this status was revoked upon his first conviction for destruction of property in 1998. He was deported in 2003, but then illegally re-entered the United States before being deported a second time in 2014, the department said. He then illegally entered the United States a second time at an unknown date and location, according to DHS.
During her first days in office, Governor Spanberger signed executive orders banning state cooperation with ICE as well as terminating 287(g) state and local agreements, according to DHS.
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
