An illegal immigrant convicted of rape smirked as ICE agents finally arrested him after Maryland sanctuary policies repeatedly allowed him to avoid deportation despite his serious criminal conviction. ICE officials have criticized Maryland’s sanctuary policies for undermining public safety and endangering communities
Convicted Rapist Protected by Sanctuary Policies
ICE agents in Maryland recently arrested Alex Yonatan Flores-Arce, an illegal immigrant convicted of second-degree rape, after Howard County officials repeatedly refused to honor federal immigration detainers. Flores-Arce originally entered the United States illegally through the southern border in 2019. Despite his serious criminal conviction and a 15-year prison sentence, Howard County authorities released him on May 5 without notifying federal immigration officials, allowing him to remain in the community despite his deportation eligibility.
When Flores-Arce was later rearrested for a probation violation, county officials again refused to cooperate with ICE’s detainer request. ICE officers were finally able to take him into custody as he exited the Howard County Detention Center. Video footage of the arrest shows Flores-Arce visibly smirking as agents placed him in handcuffs, seemingly unfazed by the consequences of his actions. He will now remain in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings.
An illegal alien, convicted of rape, smirked as ICE agents busted him in the sanctuary state of Maryland which had previously protected him from federal immigration enforcement, exclusive footage shared with Breitbart News shows.
— JB Slear (@JB_Slear) May 28, 2025
ICE Officials Condemn Sanctuary Policies
Federal immigration officials have expressed strong criticism of Howard County’s refusal to cooperate with ICE detainers, suggesting these sanctuary policies directly endanger Maryland communities. The case represents a clear example of the ongoing tension between federal immigration enforcement priorities and local sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with federal authorities, even in cases involving serious criminal offenders who pose potential threats to public safety.
“The decision by Howard County Detention Center to ignore our immigration detainer and release a removable individual with an egregious criminal history undermines public safety and put Maryland communities at risk” Nikita Baker, ICE Baltimore acting Field Office Director, stated regarding the case.
Baker further emphasized that this was not an isolated incident, noting: “This failure is not an isolated incident, but part of a concerning pattern we see all too often.” The statement highlights ICE’s growing frustration with sanctuary jurisdictions that refuse to honor detainer requests even for individuals convicted of serious crimes. These policies create additional challenges for federal agents attempting to enforce immigration laws and remove dangerous criminals from communities.
Illegal Alien Rapist Smirks as ICE Agents Arrest Him in Sanctuary State Marylandhttps://t.co/LwXZMLPsG9
— Juan Delano 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@RJrs3n927) May 28, 2025
Pattern of Non-Cooperation in Maryland
The Flores-Arce case is not unique in Maryland. ICE officials also recently arrested Henry Argueta-Tobar, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala convicted of raping a Maryland resident. Like Flores-Arce, Argueta-Tobar entered the United States illegally in 2019. Despite being convicted of second-degree rape and receiving a 20-year sentence with most suspended, Charles County officials similarly refused to honor an ICE detainer, necessitating his separate arrest by federal agents in Waldorf, Maryland.
“After unlawfully entering our country, Henry Argueta-Tobar made his way to Maryland and victimized one of our residents. We could not allow him to continue to threaten our communities. ERO Baltimore will continue to prioritize public safety by relentlessly pursuing unlawfully present sexual predators and egregious criminal noncitizens.” ERO Baltimore acting Deputy Field Office Director Vernon Liggins stated.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore has attempted to downplay the sanctuary state controversy, claiming: “The idea that somehow the state has an ICE policy — there’s nowhere that a state has an ICE policy. Frankly, for anyone who’s talking about what the state should do, I tell people they’re either politically motivated or just deeply uninformed.” However, ICE officials maintain that the lack of cooperation from multiple Maryland counties demonstrates a clear pattern that hampers their ability to effectively protect communities from criminal illegal immigrants.