FAIRFAX, VA. — A 25-year-old Guatemalan national, Mykol Santos-Santos, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this week in Fairfax, Virginia, after a lengthy criminal history and multiple refusals by local authorities to honor ICE detainers.
Santos-Santos, a documented member of the MS-13 gang, has a criminal record that spans over 15 pages in the ICE database. He has been arrested more than 30 times by Fairfax County police, with charges ranging from assault and battery to burglary, drug crimes, credit card fraud, and property damage, among others.
Despite this extensive history, Fairfax County Adult Detention Center repeatedly refused to honor 16 immigration detainers lodged against him, ultimately prompting ICE to take matters into their own hands. The arrest on Monday was met with resistance from Santos-Santos, during which one ICE officer was injured.
Russell Hott, Director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Washington, D.C., expressed his frustration with the situation, emphasizing the importance of working together with local law enforcement to ensure public safety.
“Santos-Santos is a habitual offender, and his repeated release into the community poses a significant threat,” Hott said in a statement. “It is inexcusable that local law enforcement chose to prioritize politics over public safety, resulting in one of our officers being injured.”
Santos-Santos now faces charges and will be deported after his time in custody.
