U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged a detainer request with Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger regarding Freddi Chigo Mil, an undocumented immigrant charged with second-degree murder following a stabbing incident in Staunton, Virginia. The request seeks to prevent Mil’s release from state custody until federal immigration authorities can take him into custody for potential removal proceedings.
What the Right Is Saying
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin characterized the incident as part of a broader trend, stating, 'this is what the Commonwealth of Virginia has become under the sanctuary policies of Gov. Abigail Spanberger and her fellow sanctuary politicians.' Mullin argued that ICE’s request to hold Mil is necessary to ensure he faces justice and is subsequently removed from the country, asserting that 'deporting illegal aliens saves lives.' Sean Kennedy, president of Virginians for Safe Communities, criticized the governor’s approach, arguing that 'Spanberger's actions are not pro-immigrant. They are pro-criminal.' Kennedy contended that shielding dangerous offenders from removal effectively releases predators onto the streets, noting that these individuals often prey on other immigrants. Jennifer Harrison, executive director of the Victims' Rights Reform Council, described the situation as 'out of control' and questioned why the federal government must ask state officials not to release dangerous immigrants back into communities.
What the Left Is Saying
A spokesperson for Governor Spanberger stated that the administration 'strongly believes violent criminals who are in the United States illegally should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and deported.' The office emphasized that under Spanberger’s leadership, the Virginia Department of Corrections maintains a long-standing practice of notifying ICE when individuals born outside the United States enter state custody. Additionally, the spokesperson noted that Virginia state law enforcement agencies continue to participate in task forces and interagency cooperation with federal agencies. Spanberger, identified in the statement as a former federal law enforcement officer who prosecuted child predators, is described as prioritizing 'the safety and well-being of Virginia families.'
What the Numbers Show
According to the Department of Homeland Security, there have been 22 cases of violent crime involving undocumented immigrants in Virginia this year. Charges filed in these cases include murder, aggravated sexual battery, rape, abduction, sex offenses against children, and attempted disarming of a law enforcement officer. In Staunton, police found Mil at the scene with two stabbed women; one victim was pronounced dead, and the other was transported to a local hospital. Mil is charged with second-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding causing permanent impairment. Separately, ICE arrested Yinmi Molina-Zepeda in Woodbridge, Virginia, after determining he is wanted in El Salvador for aggravated homicide and other crimes. Middle River Regional Jail records confirm the charges against Mil.
The Bottom Line
The incident highlights the ongoing legal and political friction between federal immigration enforcement priorities and state-level policies regarding the detention of undocumented immigrants accused of crimes. Governor Spanberger’s office maintains that cooperation with ICE occurs through notification and interagency task forces, while federal officials argue that current state practices hinder the immediate removal of individuals charged with violent offenses. The case will likely serve as a focal point for debates over 'sanctuary' policies in Virginia and other states as the administration reviews its approach to federal-state immigration cooperation.