U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) went on the record this week with the Loudoun Independent, in an attempt to address lingering questions surrounding the Arnold Mancia—Morales case. Mancia-Morales, here illegally and now serving a life sentence following a conviction for rape, may have unknowingly exposed deficiencies in the system of deporting undocumented workers with criminal convictions.
The Loudoun Independent addressed the issues surrounding the Mancia-Morales and ICE in a series of articles, questioning whether he had truly been deported because of earlier convictions.
After a July 2006 arrest in Clarke County, according to Cori Bassett, ICE Public Affairs Officer at Winchester’s Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center, Morales was referred to ICE’s Criminal Alien Program. According to records, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) then placed a detainer on Mancia-Morales. A detainer is a writ issued by a law enforcement agency for the detention of an individual until that agency can lawfully take custody. A jail will routinely check its databases as well as those of other agencies for detainers from other agencies before releasing an inmate from its custody.
It was then, according to Bassett, that Morales was deported to his homeland of Honduras.
When asked if there was evidence that Mancia—Morales ever actually left the country, Bassett disclosed the process. She noted that ICE has two options to deport individuals from the United States. The agency, according to Bassett, can take advantage of commercial flights or access its own flight operations unit. In the Morales case, ICE would not disclose which option was used for Morales. Bassett noted, “There is a process to follow. We have extensive paperwork we have to file…” Bassett assured the Loudoun Independent that Mancia—Morales had been successfully deported to Honduras following his 2006 arrest.
Public concern regarding the Mancia-Morales case came to a head as details of the case became public. Adding to the horrific nature of the crime, citizens became alarmed as his prior criminal history became apparent and as he appeared to have escaped deportation at least once.
It was in November 2007 that Mancia-Morales was first arrested on Ironwood Road, the same street where the rape of an elderly woman would take place the following August. Morales was arrested for Unlawful Entry, Assault, and Destruction of Property–this time under the name Martin Jose Morales-Mancia. After attempting to gain entry into a residence, he then damaged the windows of several vehicles.
In this case, the victim did know Mancia-Morales. Lacking sufficient evidence, the charges were dropped.
All sources indicate he was not deported at this point. However, Mancia-Morales was on probation in Clarke County during this time period and was already facing a charge of Failure to Appear in Greene County—but neither charge was flagged.
In May 2008, Mancia—Morales was arrested for Destruction of Property, Assault and Battery, and Resisting Lawful Arrest. He served two months and 20 days, paid restitution, and he was released into the Loudoun community.
In a statement from Mancia—Morales to Loudoun investigators he said:
“…in July, I had six charges against me and was surprised I got out of jail after they were going to deport me, and I didn’t take advantage of this opportunity.” The six charges referred to were the charges from both the May and November incidents.
“The standard procedure when someone is booked into jail is a wanted check NCIC,” according to LCSO spokesman Kraig Troxell, “And that is for state and federal charges. If there was wanted information on the subject at the time, it should have come up during the wanted check. And the same with the federal detainer, that should come up as well.”
When asked by the Loudoun Independent why a detainer was not put on him, Troxell responded, “When someone comes into our custody, ICE is contacted. We can’t deport someone.”
Local police and U.S. Immigration agents must enjoy a symbiotic relationship, often working in tandem to capture, flag, and deport illegals. Arnold Mancia—Morales has 5 mug shots—a host of aliases—and only one deportation. The mystery remains and the investigation continues.
Does it take us over and over again- this is no mystery what happened here. Oversite, no a system that needs fixed to protect public saftey. This sould always come first.
Frank Holtz
Leesburgs Crime Prevention Council