Three of the nine men arrested in a Virginia child exploitation operation are illegal aliens with extensive criminal records, the Department of Homeland Security told Fox News. All three have since been released on bond.
Fairfax County police said Wednesday that the suspects allegedly went to the county intending to meet minors for sexual encounters after exchanging sexually explicit online messages with undercover detectives posing as juveniles.
DHS identified the three men as Reyben Leono Sanchez Hernandez, 21, of El Salvador; Wilmer Alexander Aguilar Cruz, 28, of El Salvador; and Henry Adalberto Flores Herrera, 39.
According to DHS, all three had previously been caught entering the United States illegally and were later released during the Obama administration. The department criticized the administration’s immigration policies as well as Fairfax County’s “sanctuary” policies, saying they contributed to what it characterized as an influx of criminal illegal aliens.
DHS said three of the nine men arrested in the Fairfax County undercover child exploitation sting are illegal aliens. (Fairfax County Police DepartmentAB/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
DHS said Sanchez Hernandez’s prior criminal history includes solicitation of prostitution from a minor. Fairfax County police also said he was charged with driving on a suspended license.
Officials said Sanchez Hernandez was apprehended near the Rio Grande Valley on Sept. 25, 2013, after illegally entering the United States. He was released into the country roughly a month later, according to DHS.
ICE lodged a detainer for Sanchez Hernandez with the Fairfax County Detention Center on July 29, officials said. Police said he has nevertheless been released on a $3,000 secured bond.
Aguilar Cruz was caught by Border Patrol near Hidalgo, Texas, in late 2012 before being released into the country during the Obama administration about two weeks later, according to DHS.
His criminal history includes allegations involving computer solicitation of a child, indecent liberties, proposed sex acts, sodomy, extortion and threats to burn, DHS said.
On April 27, 2019, police in Prince William County, Virginia, arrested Aguilar Cruz on charges of threatening to bomb or burn and making a threat in writing. ICE arrested him two days later, and he was released on bond on Aug. 9, 2019, according to DHS.
ICE placed a detainer on Aguilar Cruz with the Fairfax County Detention Center July 31, officials said. However, local police said he has since been released on $3,000 secured bond.
Nine men were arrested after undercover Fairfax County detectives posed as minors online and arranged meetings with suspects, police said. (Fairfax County Police Department)
Flores Herrera’s criminal history includes felony solicitation of prostitution from a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, driving under the influence of liquor and a traffic offense, according to DHS.
ICE placed a detainer on Flores Herrera with the Fairfax County Detention Center July 17, officials said. He has since been released on $5,000 secured bond.
DHS did not disclose how Flores Herrera entered the country.
Fairfax County police said they conducted a major undercover operation that led to the arrests of nine men accused of arranging sexual encounters with minors. (Eric Baradat/AFP/Getty Images)
A DHS spokesperson blamed former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris for policies the department said paved the way for millions of unvetted illegal aliens to enter the U.S.
“These criminal illegal aliens were hand-delivered to Fairfax County communities by President Obama, who, like Sleepy Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, unleashed millions of unvetted illegal aliens into American communities and abused the law to do so,” the spokesperson said.
“President Trump and Secretary Mullin are now enforcing the law, arresting illegal aliens who have no right to be in our country and have reversed Democrats’ deadly catch and release policy.”
The department also urged Democratic Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger to increase cooperation with ICE to turn over detained immigrants.
“Under Governor Spanberger, Virginia has become a hotbed of illegal alien crime. 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,” the department said.
“We are urging Governor Spanberger to put her community first and turn over this criminal illegal alien to ICE.”
