A 30-year-old Venezuelan illegal immigrant named Yohandri Roger Mosquera-Rosas has been charged with malicious wounding, driving while intoxicated, hit-and-run, and several gun crimes. Despite pleas from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to transfer him into their custody, Mosquera was released multiple times by authorities in Virginia. He was initially released into the U.S. by border officials in October 2022 after being granted parole, but he violated the terms of his admission. In January 2023, he was arrested by Fairfax County police and charged with additional crimes including reckless handling of a firearm and endangering a child with a loaded firearm.
ICE issued a detainer for Mosquera, which is a request for the agency to be notified when a suspected illegal immigrant is being released from state or local custody so they can take them into federal custody. However, in Mosquera’s case, the detainer was ignored, and he was released. He was subsequently arrested in June on a gun charge, and twice more in February and May 2024 for driving offenses. Each time, ICE detainers were ignored. ICE’s Washington, D.C. Field Office Director Liana Castano emphasized the significant threat Mosquera poses to the community and vowed to prioritize the safety of residents by apprehending and removing noncitizen offenders like him from Washington, D.C. and Virginia.
In addition to Mosquera’s case, ICE recently revealed data on the number of illegal immigrants with criminal convictions on their non-detained docket. The data shows that, among those not in detention, there are 425,431 convicted criminals and 222,141 individuals with pending criminal charges. ICE criticized so-called “sanctuary” cities, which refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement in deporting illegal immigrant criminals. These policies can end up shielding dangerous criminals, who often continue to victimize the very communities they are meant to protect.
ICE also highlighted the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to remove illegal immigrants from the country. From mid-May 2023 through the end of July 2024, DHS removed or returned over 893,600 individuals, including more than 138,300 individuals in family units. The majority of individuals encountered at the Southwest Border in the past three years have been removed, returned, or expelled. Despite the challenges presented by sanctuary policies, ICE and DHS remain committed to removing dangerous criminal offenders from communities to ensure the safety and security of residents.
The case of Yohandri Roger Mosquera-Rosas brings attention to the failures of the system when it comes to dealing with illegal immigrants with criminal records. Despite ICE’s efforts to take custody of individuals like Mosquera, sanctuary jurisdictions often disregard detainers, allowing dangerous criminals to remain in the community. The data on the number of illegal immigrants with criminal convictions and pending charges emphasizes the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in ensuring public safety. ICE’s commitment to removing these individuals and DHS’ efforts to enforce immigration laws are crucial in protecting communities from individuals like Mosquera who pose a significant threat. Ultimately, addressing these issues requires collaboration between federal, state, and local authorities to prevent dangerous offenders from continuing to victimize innocent residents.
