Moises Domingo Rico Rosales, a Nicaraguan national who entered the United States without authorization in 2022, was arrested on Tuesday in connection with two separate incidents at Wakefield Park in Annandale, Virginia.
Authorities allege that he exposed himself to a woman and later attempted to drag another woman into a wooded area of the park. He now faces charges of abduction with intent to defile and indecent exposure, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed a detainer on his record.
Rico Rosales had previously been detained in Fairfax County in 2024 on felony drug‑trafficking charges. Local officials released him after refusing to honor an ICE detainer, and the drug charges were subsequently dismissed.
The release sparked criticism from federal officials, who argue that sanctuary policies undermine public safety. Federal officials have called on state and local leaders to ensure that individuals with serious criminal allegations are not released pending immigration proceedings.
The case has intensified debate over the handling of ICE detainers in Northern Virginia. Fairfax County officials maintain that they do not hold inmates solely on ICE requests without a judicial warrant.
According to the sheriff’s office, the 2024 request from ICE was informal and did not include a court order, which is required under county policy to delay a detainee’s release. The office stated that it would comply with a formal detainer if presented.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office explained that charges can be dropped for a variety of reasons, including insufficient evidence, uncooperative victims, or the defendant’s cooperation with authorities. Specific details of the decision were not disclosed.
Governor Abigail Spanberger has enacted legislation limiting state and local participation in federal civil immigration enforcement, ending prior agreements and restricting assistance to cases backed by a judicial warrant or subpoena.
Despite the new restrictions, the governor’s office affirmed that state corrections agencies continue to notify ICE when non‑citizens are in custody and that inter‑agency cooperation on criminal matters persists.
