Angel mom Cheryl Minter demands accountability from Fairfax DA
House Republicans pressed Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano over what critics describe as a soft-on-crime approach, with particular focus on how his office has handled cases involving criminal illegal immigrants. In emotional testimony, Angel Mom Cheryl Minter said the killing of her daughter, allegedly at the hands of an illegal immigrant with more than 30 previous arrests, underscored the devastating stakes. Minter sharply condemned Virginia’s sanctuary policies and called for greater accountability and stronger coordination with ICE.
Federal immigration officials carried out a holiday enforcement push over Independence Day weekend, arresting illegal immigrants across the United States, including individuals previously convicted of murder, burglary and child sex offenses.
The Department of Homeland Security said Monday that the arrests took place as Americans marked the nation’s 250th birthday celebrations.
“While Americans celebrated the 250th anniversary of the greatest nation on Earth, the brave men and women of ICE were arresting the worst of the worst, including multiple murderers, pedophiles, rapists, kidnappers, drunk drivers, drug traffickers, and other dangerous public safety threats,” said DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “Our law enforcement officers work around the clock, even on holidays, to make our communities safer.”
Federal immigration authorities arrested several illegal immigrants over the Independence Day weekend who had convictions tied to violent and serious crimes. Among those taken into custody were (left to right) Radimir Thompson-Nagle; Marcos Rubio-Hernandez; Roberto Gutierrez-Diaz; Francisco Olmedo-Silva and Pedro Mazorra-Herrera. (Department of Homeland Security)
Bis said that under President Donald Trump, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has added 12,000 officers and agents in under a year, a hiring surge that she said has more than doubled the agency’s personnel.
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“Thanks to President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, we have an additional 12,000 ICE officers who will continue delivering on the American people’s mandate to make our nation SAFE AGAIN,” she said.
Among those arrested during the weekend operation was Radimir Thompson-Nagle, a citizen of Panama who ICE said has convictions for murder and assault in Brooklyn, New York.
A fireworks display is seen during the “Salute to America” Independence Day celebration on the National Mall in Washington, DC, in the early morning hours of July 5, 2026. (Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images)
Marcos Rubio-Hernandez, a Mexican citizen, was previously convicted of second-degree murder and kidnapping in Wilson County, North Carolina. Roberto Gutierrez-Diaz, also from Mexico, has convictions for sodomy (victim less than 12 years old), sexual abuse (victim less than 12 years old), attempted rape (domestic violence), and burglary in Louisville, Kentucky.
Francisco Olmedo-Silva, from Mexico, has convictions spanning Oregon, Wyoming, and Pennsylvania for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, escaping from custody and robbery.
Pedro Mazorra-Herrera, from Cuba, was convicted of aggravated stalking, resisting an officer with violence, burglary with assault or battery and cocaine possession in Miami, Florida.
Monday’s announcement came as the Trump administration continues its deportation campaign targeting criminal illegal immigrants and pushing back on sanctuary jurisdictions.
“Sanctuary city politicians who put illegal alien criminals over their own citizens are a national security threat,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin posted Monday on X. “Seven of the 10 safest cities in America cooperate with @ICEgov. Meanwhile, @GovernorVA has created a hotbed of illegal alien criminal activity in her own backyard.”
Mullin’s remarks came in response to a News Agency story stating that Fairfax County, Virginia, has refused to transfer 615 illegal immigrants to ICE over the past 16 months while turning over just 11. The county designated itself a sanctuary jurisdiction in 2021.
