According to Fox News’ Bill Melugin and an ABC News affiliate, federal immigration officials say a Salvadoran illegal alien accused of murdering a man in Reston, Virginia should never have been back on the street.
ICE confirmed that 23-year-old Marvin Morales-Ortez, a citizen of El Salvador, was released from the Fairfax County jail just one day before the killing, despite an ICE detainer request that county officials ignored.
Morales-Ortez was arrested Wednesday following a manhunt after police found a man shot and killed inside a Reston home.
According to authorities, Morales-Ortez had been held in the Fairfax County jail on charges including brandishing a firearm and assault causing injury, but was released Tuesday after the case was dropped. ICE says Fairfax County refused to transfer him into federal custody, even though agents had requested it.
After his release, Fairfax County Police say they obtained an emergency custody order over mental health and danger concerns. Officers attempted to locate Morales-Ortez — but could not find him.
Police say he is accused of committing the murder just hours later.
Records show Morales-Ortez has a lengthy criminal history, with at least seven prior charges in Fairfax County since 2020.
“On December 17th, Marvin Fernando Morales-Ortez, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador with prior criminal charges for assaulting law enforcement/first responders allegedly gunned down a Virginia resident in Reston, Virginia,” ICE said in a statement.
“Fairfax County FAILED the victim by refusing to work with ICE and releasing this criminal alien onto Virginia streets instead of safely into ICE custody. If Fairfax County would have simply worked to uphold our nation’s laws, then this tragedy may have never happened.”
Fox News’ Bill Melugin shared the story on X:
NEW: ICE confirms that a murder suspect arrested for shooting & killing a man in Reston, VA yesterday is a Salvadoran illegal alien who had just been released from the Fairfax County, VA jail the day beforehand with ICE’s detainer request ignored.
23-year-old Marvin… pic.twitter.com/TjBpO5fWsp
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) December 18, 2025
Watch the clip below:
The sanctuary politicians of Fairfax County, VA have blood on their hands.
The day after Fairfax County REFUSED to hand over Marvin Fernando Morales-Ortez, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador, to ICE he allegedly MURDERED an American citizen.
He has a prior history of… pic.twitter.com/9KtG8bCIsO
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) December 19, 2025
More over at WJLA:
Local write up via WJLA.https://t.co/stTy5llIoj
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) December 18, 2025
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