{"id":2601373,"date":"2026-05-11T17:22:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T21:22:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-ice-nabs-drug-trafficker-in-virginia-as-spanberger-refuses-to-turn-over-violent-illegal-aliens\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T17:24:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T21:24:40","slug":"exclusive-ice-nabs-drug-trafficker-in-virginia-as-spanberger-refuses-to-turn-over-violent-illegal-aliens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-ice-nabs-drug-trafficker-in-virginia-as-spanberger-refuses-to-turn-over-violent-illegal-aliens\/","title":{"rendered":"Exclusive: ICE Nabs Illegal Alien Drug Trafficker In Virginia"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fexclusive-ice-nabs-drug-trafficker-in-virginia-as-spanberger-refuses-to-turn-over-violent-illegal-aliens%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2601373&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>ICE arrested Eduardo Perez-Legra, a Cuban national in Virginia described by DHS as an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ag-releases-police-records-detailing-garcias-criminal-history\/\" title=\"AG ...s Pol... Records Detailing Garcia\u2019s Criminal History\">illegal immigrant adn<\/a> a repeat drug trafficker, after finding drugs including cocaine, oxycodone, fentanyl pills, and Suboxone films during a search following his May 4 arrest in Newport News. DHS said Perez-Legra had been convicted of drug trafficking four prior times and had received immigration relief after an earlier removal order, which it cites as an example of how criminals can remain in the country.<\/p>\n<p>The article argues that Virginia\u2019s Democratic \u201csanctuary\u201d approach-associated with Gov. Abigail Spanberger-has made the state safer for criminals by limiting state cooperation with federal enforcement. It points to Spanberger\u2019s executive order restricting state collaboration with ICE and terminating 287(g) agreements that allow designated local officers to perform immigration functions for ICE. DHS also cites other recent criminal cases in Virginia involving alleged illegal-immigrant offenders, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >including accusations involving sexual violence<\/a> and severe crimes against children, as further evidence supporting its claim that sanctuary policies contribute to public safety risks.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-body body-md bdr-top-black pt-30\">\n<div class=\"row justify-content-center\">\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n<figure class=\"article-thumbnail mb-30 mb-sm-60\">\n<div class=\"article-thumbnail-caption d-flex align-items-center justify-content-md-end label-xs mt-15\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-camera me-10\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Image Credit<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/a-person-with-handcuffs-7714789\/\">Kindel Media \/ Pexels<\/a>       <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-share text-center article-share-simple\">\n<h5 class=\"label-sm mb-10\">Share<\/h5>\n<ul class=\"article-share-list list-unstyled m-0 p-0\">\n<li class=\"article-share-facebook m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/05\/11\/exclusive-ice-nabs-drug-trafficker-in-virginia-as-spanberger-refuses-to-turn-over-violent-illegal-aliens\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-facebook\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Facebook<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-twitter m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Exclusive: ICE Nabs Drug Trafficker In Virginia As Spanberger Refuses To Turn Over Violent Illegal Aliens&#038;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/05\/11\/exclusive-ice-nabs-drug-trafficker-in-virginia-as-spanberger-refuses-to-turn-over-violent-illegal-aliens\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-twitter\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Twitter<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-truth-social m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/share?title=Exclusive: ICE Nabs Drug Trafficker In Virginia As Spanberger Refuses To Turn Over Violent Illegal Aliens&#038;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/05\/11\/exclusive-ice-nabs-drug-trafficker-in-virginia-as-spanberger-refuses-to-turn-over-violent-illegal-aliens\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"currentColor\" style=\"width:36px;height:auto;\" viewbox=\"0 0 92 93\"><path d=\"M69.444 55.716H56.772v10.37h12.672zM64.487 37.795V27.32H38.666v38.664h13.18v-28.19zM21.05 27.321h12.653v10.471H21.051z\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/><\/svg>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Truth Social<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-link m-0\">       <button data-clipboard-text=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/05\/11\/exclusive-ice-nabs-drug-trafficker-in-virginia-as-spanberger-refuses-to-turn-over-violent-illegal-aliens\/\" data-tooltip-content=\"Copied!\" class=\"clip tooltip\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-link-variant\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Copy Article Link<\/span>       <\/button>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-email m-0\">       <a href=\"mailto:?subject=Exclusive: ICE Nabs Drug Trafficker In Virginia As Spanberger Refuses To Turn Over Violent Illegal Aliens&#038;body=%20https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/05\/11\/exclusive-ice-nabs-drug-trafficker-in-virginia-as-spanberger-refuses-to-turn-over-violent-illegal-aliens\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-email\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article via Email<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-email m-0\"><span class=\"printfriendly pf-button  pf-alignleft\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\" rel=\"nofollow\" onclick=\"window.print(); return false;\" title=\"Printer Friendly, PDF &#038; Email\"><span id=\"printfriendly-text2\" class=\"pf-button-text\"><i class=\"mdi mdi-printer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested a criminal illegal alien from Cuba last week who was carrying fentanyl, narcotics, and cocaine, the Department of Homeland Security announced Monday. The arrest of the illegal alien \u2014 who DHS said was previously convicted of drug trafficking four times \u2014 took place in Virginia, and serves as a reminder of how the state\u2019s dangerous sanctuary policies under Democrat leadership threaten Americans\u2019 safety. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cVirginia is a hotbed for criminal illegal alien crime,\u201d Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement.\u00a0\u201cCriminals flock to sanctuary Virginia because they know Governor\u00a0Spanberger and her fellow sanctuary politicians will protect them.\u201d <\/p>\n<div id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-1333889957\" class=\"d-flex justify-content-center fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2 fdrlst__b89e9-entity-placement\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1463670073398-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>According to DHS, ICE arrested Eduardo Perez-Legra on May 4 in Newport News, Virginia. When law enforcement searched Perez-Legra after arresting him, they \u201cseized\u00a019.5 grams of cocaine, 101 oxycodone pills, 5 fentanyl pills, and 27 individually packaged\u00a0suboxone sublingual films.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Perez-Legra was previously convicted of drug trafficking four times. He also has two prior felony convictions for cocaine possession, according to the agency. The illegal alien from Cuba reportedly obtained a green card in 2004. He was \u201celigible for removal\u201d after being convicted as a felon in 2011, but instead the Obama administration released him in \u201cdespite\u00a0a\u00a0Department of Justice\u00a0Immigration Judge issuing him a final order of removal\u201d in May 2012, the DHS said in a press release.<\/p>\n<p>Virginia\u2019s Democrat governor, Abigail Spanberger, has wasted no time using her position to make it harder for the Trump administration to carry out its campaign promise to arrest and deport criminals in the country illegally. As Fox News <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/spanberger-dodges-questions-whether-she-would-reverse-sanctuary-policy-dhs-turns-up-heat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a>, after Spanberger became governor in Virginia, she \u201cjoined a handful of Democratic governors like California Governor Gavin Newsom and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker who have made it harder for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/controversies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/president-trump-pledges-orderly-transition-of-power\/\" title=\"President Trump pledges orderly transition of power\">local law enforcement<\/a><\/a> to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Spanberger, as DHS points out, signed an executive order in January \u201cbanning state cooperation\u00a0with ICE.\u201d She also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.governor.virginia.gov\/media\/governorvirginiagov\/governor-of-virginia\/pdf\/ed\/ED-1-Directing-the-Commonwealth%E2%80%99s-Law-Enforcement-Agencies-to-Terminate-Any-and-All-Section-287(g)-Agreements.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">directed<\/a> multiple state departments and the Virginia State Police \u201cto terminate any and all Section 287(g) Agreements and any related memoranda of understanding or similar agreements with ICE.\u201d Section 287(g) programs <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ice.gov\/identify-and-arrest\/287g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">allow<\/a> ICE to \u201cdelegate state and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/country-celebrates-natl-law-enforcement-appreciation-day\/\" title=\"Country celebrates Nat\u2019l Law Enforcement Appreciation Day\">local law enforcement officers<\/a> the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under ICE\u2019s direction and oversight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In its press release announcing Perez-Legra\u2019s arrest, DHS noted multiple arrests and convictions of criminal illegal aliens in Virginia in recent months, demonstrating that the state \u201chas become a hotbed of illegal alien crime\u201d under Spanberger\u2019s watch. The lineup includes Walvin\u00a0Victor Hugo Garcia from Guatemala, who has been charged with multiple crimes against minors, including the rape of a girl less than 13 years old. According to ABC affiliate 7News, ICE lodged a detainer for Garcia in Fairfax County, requesting that he not be released. Garcia appeared in a county court on May 1 without ICE being alerted and <a href=\"https:\/\/katv.com\/news\/nation-world\/illegal-immigrant-charged-with-child-rape-arrested-ice-release-fairfax-county-immigration-customs-enforcement-virginia-immigrants-sexual-battery-sanctuary-policies-spanberger-police-cooperation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">was allowed to leave<\/a>. However, \u201cICE was waiting at the court and immediately arrested him.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>In April, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dhs.gov\/news\/2026\/04\/10\/dhs-issues-statement-pedophile-convicted-assaulting-high-school-girls-fairfax\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Israel Christopher Flores-Ortiz<\/a> \u2014 an 18-year-old high school student from El Salvador \u2014 was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ffxnow.com\/2026\/04\/21\/fairfax-high-student-sentenced-to-jail-for-groping-multiple-girls\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sentenced<\/a> to jail for roughly four months after being accused of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ffxnow.com\/2026\/04\/10\/fairfax-high-student-found-guilty-of-assault-for-grabbing-butts-of-other-students\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">groping<\/a> several female students. He was convicted on nine misdemeanor counts. <a href=\"https:\/\/wjla.com\/news\/local\/father-accused-killing-3-month-old-daughter-fairfax-county-misael-lopez-gomez-illegal-immigrant\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Misael Lopez Gomez<\/a>, also an illegal alien from Guatemala, allegedly beat his own three-month-old child to death in Fairfax County and now faces murder and child abuse charges. He was arrested by ICE in late March, and DHS has called \u201con Gov. Abigail Spanberger and Fairfax County officials not to release the alleged baby killer,\u201d 7News <a href=\"https:\/\/wjla.com\/news\/local\/father-accused-killing-3-month-old-daughter-fairfax-county-misael-lopez-gomez-illegal-immigrant\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>DHS also included on its list Luzvin Orvando Garcia Moran from Guatemala. Just last month, according to authorities, Moran attempted to rape a woman in the Virginia\u2019s upscale Arlington county while she was waiting for a ride. He allegedly assaulted her <a href=\"https:\/\/wjla.com\/news\/local\/woman-attacked-assault-while-waiting-rideshare-arlington-virginia-clarendon-luzvin-orvando-garcia-moran-guatemala-migrant-department-of-homeland-security-violent-charges-offenses-investigation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">not once, but twice<\/a>. Moran had more than two dozen prior charges in less than a decade, 7News reported at the time.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">\n<div class=\"article-author-description fst-italic\">      Maisey Jefferson is a staff editor at The Federalist. She graduated from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gordon.edu\/\">Gordon College<\/a> in the greater Boston area with a degree in English and Professional Writing. You can follow her on X at <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/jeffermaisey\">@jeffermaisey<\/a>.<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author mt-30 mt-sm-60 pt-30 bdr-top-bold-black\">\n<div class=\"row g-0 align-items-center\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6\">\n<div class=\"article-author-profile d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-md-start\">\n<div class=\"article-author-details\">\n<div class=\"label-md\">Maisey Jefferson<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 d-flex justify-content-center justify-content-md-end mt-15 mt-md-0\">        <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/author\/maiseyjefferson\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">More Articles<\/a>     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-tags bdr-top-black mt-30 mt-sm-60 pt-15 pt-md-45\">\n<ul class=\"list-unstyled d-flex flex-wrap align-items-center mb-0 mx-n10 p-0\">\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/abigail-spanberger\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Abigail Spanberger<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/dhs\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">DHS<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/drug-trafficking\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">drug trafficking<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/immigration\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Immigration<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/immigration-customs-enforcement-2\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Immigration &#038; Customs &#038; Enforcement<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/lauren-bis\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Lauren Bis<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/sanctuary-policies\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">sanctuary policies<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/virginia\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Virginia<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ICE arrested a Cuban criminal with fentanyl, cocaine, and drugs in Virginia, DHS says<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2168,"featured_media":2601376,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/pexels-kindelmedia-7714789-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[36244,8364,3813,51050,5468],"class_list":["post-2601373","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","tag-drug-trafficking","tag-ice","tag-immigration","tag-law-enforcement-2","tag-virginia"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/pexels-kindelmedia-7714789-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601373","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2168"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2601373"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601373\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2601379,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601373\/revisions\/2601379"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2601376"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2601373"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2601373"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2601373"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}