Homeland Security officials and advocacy groups are criticizing Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger for sanctuary policies that they claim have led to an increase in violent crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. Recently, ICE requested the state not release Mexican immigrant Freddi Chigo Mil, who is charged with second-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding following a stabbing spree in Staunton, Virginia. Additionally, Salvadoran immigrant Yinmi Molina-Zepeda was arrested for being wanted in his home country on charges of aggravated homicide and other crimes. The Department of Homeland Security cited 22 violent crime cases involving undocumented immigrants in Virginia this year, highlighting what they see as a severe public safety issue under Spanberger’s leadership.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Anger is boiling over at Virginia Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger and sanctuary-friendly politicians over “out of control” killings in the state after US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) asked the state not to allow the release of yet another illegal immigrant charged with carrying out a stabbing spree.
asserted
Immigration → boil → spree
ICE sent a request to Spanberger and “her fellow sanctuary politicians” not to release Mexican illegal immigrant Freddi Chigo Mil following his arrest for allegedly stabbing two women on the streets of Staunton, Virginia, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
uncertain
ICE → send → Security
Police responding to the incident found Mil at the scene along with two stabbed women, one of whom was pronounced dead while the other was transported to a local hospital.
asserted
other → respond → hospital
Mil is charged with second-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding causing permanent impairment, according to Middle River Regional Jail records.
uncertain
Mil → charge → records
The same day, ICE arrested Salvadoran illegal immigrant Yinmi Molina-Zepeda in Woodbridge, Virginia, after it was discovered that he is wanted in his home country for aggravated homicide and other crimes.
asserted
he → arrest → homicide
Commenting on the growing list of illegal immigrants accused of violent crimes in Virginia, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin remarked that “this is what the Commonwealth of Virginia has become under the sanctuary policies of Gov. Abigail Spanberger and her fellow sanctuary politicians.”
asserted
Commonwealth → comment → Spanberger
Regarding Mil, Mullin said, “this illegal alien from Mexico has been charged with murder after a stabbing spree that killed one woman and injured another.”
asserted
that → regard → another
He explained that “ICE has lodged a detainer asking Gov. Spanberger to cooperate with us and commit to not releasing this criminal from jail, so that he can be removed from our country once he faces justice.”
asserted
he → explain → justice
“It’s time to put an end to these preventable tragedies,” he continued, adding, “Deporting illegal aliens saves lives.”
asserted
Deporting → ’ → lives
Jennifer Harrison, executive director of the victim advocacy organization Victims’ Rights Reform Council, told Fox News Digital that “everything is out of control in these upside-down jurisdictions run by politicians like Spanberger who call themselves ‘moderate Democrats’ while implementing policies that put criminals ahead of victims and public safety.”
asserted
that → tell → victims
Harrison posed the question: “How much blood has to be spilled in our streets before elected officials wake up and change course?”
asserted
officials → pose → course
“We have reached a point where the federal government has to ask state and local officials not to release dangerous illegal immigrants back into American communities.
asserted
government → reach → communities
Think about how insane that is,” Harrison continued.
asserted
Harrison → think → ?
“These are people who should not be in this country to begin with, and yet after they are accused of committing serious crimes here, when they have dead bodies in front of them, we are still having a debate over whether they should be released back onto our streets.
asserted
they → begin → streets
In a news release, DHS pointed to 22 cases of violent crime involving illegal immigrants in Virginia this year.
asserted
DHS → point → Virginia
Charges filed against illegal immigrants in Virginia this year include child pornography offenses, sex offenses against children, attempted disarming of a law enforcement officer, murder, aggravated sexual battery, rape, abduction and other serious crimes.
asserted
Charges → file → officer
A spokesperson for Spanberger’s office responded by telling Fox News Digital that the governor “strongly believes violent criminals who are in the United States illegally should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and deported.”
asserted
who → respond → law
The spokesperson said that “under Gov. Spanberger’s leadership, the Virginia Department of Corrections continues the long-standing practice of notifying ICE when individuals born outside of the United States are in state custody” and that “Virginia state law enforcement agencies also continue to participate in task forces and interagency cooperation with federal agencies.”
asserted
agencies → say → agencies
They added that “As a former federal law enforcement officer who went after child predators, Gov. Spanberger will always prioritize the safety and well-being of Virginia families.”
asserted
Spanberger → add → families
Fox News Digital also reached out to the Middle River Regional Jail for comment.
asserted
Digital → reach → comment
Sean Kennedy, president of Virginians for Safe Communities, told Fox News Digital, “Spanberger’s actions are not pro-immigrant.
asserted
actions → tell → Digital
Start your day with all you need to know
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
asserted
Report → start → news
“By shielding dangerous offenders from removal precisely because they are foreign nationals, she is loosing predators onto our streets.
asserted
she → shield → streets
In fact, these predators overwhelmingly prey on other innocent immigrants, the ones she claims to be helping,” said Kennedy.
uncertain
Kennedy → prey → immigrants
He accused Spanberger of shielding illegal immigrant criminals from consequences “by blocking ICE at every turn,” saying, “Victims’ faces should haunt the governor when she looks in the mirror.”
asserted
she → accuse → mirror
“Every murder, rape, and robbery by an illegal alien was preventable if they had never been allowed in and let stay here,” he emphasized, concluding, “They didn’t have to die.
asserted
They → allow → alien
She only had to follow the law, not her agenda.”
asserted
She → have → law
The Aporia
