Illegal immigrant nabbed after being released by local officials in Virginia
An illegally present Honduran national, Hyrum Baquedano-Rodriguez, was recently apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Fairfax, Virginia. This arrest came after local authorities dropped a series of charges against him, including child abduction and home invasion.
ICE officials stated that despite the dismissal of his most recent charges, Baquedano-Rodriguez has a history of convictions in Virginia, making him a significant threat to the community. His charges include abduction of a person with intent to defile, burglary, and entering a house with the intent to commit violent crimes.
Russell Hott, the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Washington, D.C., Field Office Director, emphasized the importance of prioritizing public safety by apprehending and removing criminal alien offenders like Baquedano-Rodriguez from the community.
Baquedano-Rodriguez’s legal troubles began when he was initially arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents in 2018 for illegally entering the United States near Yuma, Arizona. Despite this arrest, he was released on an immigration bond by a DOJ immigration judge in Eloy, Arizona, in early 2019.
In November 2021, Fairfax County police arrested Baquedano-Rodriguez on charges of indecent liberties, including exposing himself to a child and indecent exposure. Subsequent convictions in Virginia led to his sentencing to prison time and restitution. In June 2024, a DOJ immigration judge ordered his removal from the United States to Honduras.
Despite the dismissal of his most recent charges in May 2025, ICE agents swiftly took Baquedano-Rodriguez into custody in Fairfax, Virginia, and served him with a warrant of removal. He remains in ICE custody pending deportation.
This case is not an isolated incident, as Fairfax County has faced criticism for releasing Honduran nationals with criminal backgrounds in the past. The failure to cooperate with ICE detainer requests has raised concerns about public safety in the Washington, D.C. area.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to securing the border and protecting American communities. As ICE continues to apprehend individuals like Baquedano-Rodriguez, the focus remains on ensuring public safety and upholding the law.
