ICE Lodges Arrest Detainer for Convicted Child Rapist the Biden Administration Marked as a ‘Non-Enforcement’ Priority in Virginia
Release Date: October 10, 2025
This criminal illegal alien from El Salvador was convicted of repeatedly raping an 11-year-old girl after he was hired to renovate the family's bathroom
WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an immigration detainer against a 35-year-old criminal illegal alien from El Salvador who was convicted of repeatedly raping an 11-year-old child in Virginia. ICE lodged the detainer against Ricardo Leonel Mejia who was sentenced to 30 years in prison following his conviction.
“Ricardo Leonel Mejia’s crimes are unthinkable. This monstrous individual repeatedly raped an 11-year-old child in her own home,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “ICE lodged an arrest detainer to ensure that after his prison sentence, he is removed from our country and not able to prey on any more innocent American children. The Biden Administration marked this heinous criminal as a non-enforcement priority—allowing him to roam free and commit these child sex crimes. These are the type of depraved criminals, our brave ICE law enforcement officers are arresting and removing from our country every single day.”
Ricardo Leonel Mejia
Mejia, who was hired to renovate a Virginia family’s bathroom committed the crimes against the child on three different occasions. He was convicted for three counts of rape of a child under the age of 13 and breaking into the home.
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/10/10/ice-lodges-arrest-detainer-convicted-child-rapist-biden-administration-marked-non
