A 25-year-old man from Honduras, living illegally in the U.S., was arrested in Falls Church, Virginia, on April 10. His name is Marvin Mateo-Alberto, and he has been charged with serious crimes involving a child between the ages of 13 and 17. The charges include incest and aggravated sexual battery by a parent.
The arrest was carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with help from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), and the Virginia State Police.
Details of the Charges and Arrest
ICE officials said that the crimes Mateo-Alberto is accused of are disturbing and pose a major risk to children in the community. According to ICE’s Washington, D.C. Field Office Director, public safety is a top priority, and people who pose such serious threats must be removed from the streets.
Mateo-Alberto’s Immigration History
Mateo-Alberto first entered the United States illegally on October 17, 2005, near Eagle Pass, Texas. At that time, he was caught by U.S. Border Patrol and given a notice to appear before an immigration judge.
On April 5, 2006, the judge ordered that Mateo-Alberto be removed from the U.S. and sent back to Honduras. However, it appears that he did not leave and continued living in the country illegally.
Latest Legal Issues
On January 1 of this year, Fairfax County Police arrested Mateo-Alberto and charged him with incest and aggravated sexual battery involving a minor. ICE quickly placed an immigration detainer on him, asking the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center to hold him so ICE could take him into custody.
However, the detention center did not honor the ICE request and released Mateo-Alberto on January 16. This caused serious concern among immigration officials.
Arrest and Custody Status
After being released, federal and state law enforcement continued to look for Mateo-Alberto. On April 10, ICE and other agencies arrested him again in Herndon, Virginia. He is now in ICE custody and will remain there as his case moves forward.
How to Report Suspicious Activity
ICE encourages anyone who knows about crimes or suspicious behavior to report it. People can call 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or fill out an online form to share what they know.
This case highlights the serious risks involved when individuals with past criminal or immigration issues are not properly handled by the system. It also raises concerns about public safety when immigration detainers are not honored by local detention centers. The cooperation between ICE, ATF, DSS, and Virginia State Police shows the importance of agencies working together to keep communities safe, especially when children are at risk.
