UPDATE: An illegal immigrant has been charged with murder in Reston, Virginia, just hours after being released from jail, despite a detainer request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The suspect, Marvin Morales-Ortez, a citizen of El Salvador, is now accused of fatally shooting a man on September 12, 2023.
According to ICE, the tragic killing could have been prevented if Fairfax County authorities had cooperated with their detainer request. ICE spokesperson Bill Melugin stated, “If Fairfax County would have simply worked to uphold our nation’s laws, then this tragedy may have never happened.”
Morales-Ortez, aged 23, was released from the Fairfax County jail on September 11, following the dismissal of prior charges for brandishing a firearm and assault. Despite facing multiple criminal charges since 2020, he had only been convicted once, raising serious concerns about community safety.
Authorities report that after his release, they attempted to detain him under an emergency custody order due to mental health concerns, but were unable to locate him. ICE confirmed that the detainer request was ignored, highlighting a significant breakdown in communication between local and federal law enforcement.
In a striking development, Morales-Ortez is also reportedly affiliated with the MS-13 gang, adding another layer of urgency to this case. Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office responded to ICE’s claims, stating that a judicial warrant, necessary to hold Morales-Ortez past his ordered release, was not on file.
A representative from the Sheriff’s Office noted, “ICE is always free to arrest an inmate on an informal detainer. However, in order to hold an inmate, the Sheriff’s Office requires a judicial warrant to be filed.” As a result, Morales-Ortez was released following a hearing related to the incident.
This situation raises critical questions about the safety of the community and the effectiveness of collaboration between local law enforcement and federal agencies. With Morales-Ortez now a murder suspect, the implications of this case resonate deeply within the community and beyond.
Officials and community members alike are now calling for urgent reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future. As the investigation continues, all eyes will be on Fairfax County and ICE to see how they will address the fallout of this tragic event.
Stay tuned for further updates as this situation develops.
