Spanberger faces ICE detainer demands after Virginia stabbing murder
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Anger is boiling over at Virginia Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger and sanctuary-friendly politicians over «out of control» killings in the state after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) asked the state not to allow the release of yet another illegal immigrant charged with carrying out a stabbing spree.
ICE sent a request to Spanberger and «her fellow sanctuary politicians» not to release Mexican illegal immigrant Freddi Chigo Mil following his arrest for allegedly stabbing two women on the streets of Staunton, Virginia, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Police responding to the incident found Mil at the scene along with two stabbed women, one of whom was pronounced dead while the other was transported to a local hospital.
Mil is charged with second-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding causing permanent impairment, according to Middle River Regional Jail records. The same day, ICE arrested Salvadoran illegal immigrant Yinmi Molina-Zepeda in Woodbridge, Virginia, after it was discovered that he is wanted in his home country for aggravated homicide and other crimes.
Commenting on the growing list of illegal immigrants accused of violent crimes in Virginia, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin remarked that «this is what the Commonwealth of Virginia has become under the sanctuary policies of Gov. Abigail Spanberger and her fellow sanctuary politicians.»
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Virginia Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger is taking criticism after the arrests of criminal illegal immigrants Freddi Chigo Mil, right, and Yinmi Molina-Zepeda, left. (Alex Wong/Getty Images; Courtesy of DHS)
Regarding Mil, Mullin said, «this illegal alien from Mexico has been charged with murder after a stabbing spree that killed one woman and injured another.»
He explained that «ICE has lodged a detainer asking Gov. Spanberger to cooperate with us and commit to not releasing this criminal from jail, so that he can be removed from our country once he faces justice.»
«It’s time to put an end to these preventable tragedies,» he continued, adding, «Deporting illegal aliens saves lives.»
Jennifer Harrison, executive director of the victim advocacy organization Victims’ Rights Reform Council, told Fox News Digital that «everything is out of control in these upside-down jurisdictions run by politicians like Spanberger who call themselves ‘moderate Democrats’ while implementing policies that put criminals ahead of victims and public safety.»
Harrison posed the question: «How much blood has to be spilled in our streets before elected officials wake up and change course?»
«We have reached a point where the federal government has to ask state and local officials not to release dangerous illegal immigrants back into American communities. Think about how insane that is,» Harrison continued.
«These are people who should not be in this country to begin with, and yet after they are accused of committing serious crimes here, when they have dead bodies in front of them, we are still having a debate over whether they should be released back onto our streets.»
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Gov. Abigail Spanberger speaks during inaugural ceremonies at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., on Jan. 17, 2026. (Steve Helber/AP Photo)
In a news release, DHS pointed to 22 cases of violent crime involving illegal immigrants in Virginia this year. Charges filed against illegal immigrants in Virginia this year include child pornography offenses, sex offenses against children, attempted disarming of a law enforcement officer, murder, aggravated sexual battery, rape, abduction and other serious crimes.
A spokesperson for Spanberger’s office responded by telling Fox News Digital that the governor «strongly believes violent criminals who are in the United States illegally should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and deported.»
The spokesperson said that «under Gov. Spanberger’s leadership, the Virginia Department of Corrections continues the long-standing practice of notifying ICE when individuals born outside of the United States are in state custody» and that «Virginia state law enforcement agencies also continue to participate in task forces and interagency cooperation with federal agencies.»
They added that «As a former federal law enforcement officer who went after child predators, Gov. Spanberger will always prioritize the safety and well-being of Virginia families.»
Fox News Digital also reached out to the Middle River Regional Jail for comment.
Sean Kennedy, president of Virginians for Safe Communities, told Fox News Digital, «Spanberger’s actions are not pro-immigrant. They are pro-criminal.»
«By shielding dangerous offenders from removal precisely because they are foreign nationals, she is loosing predators onto our streets. In fact, these predators overwhelmingly prey on other innocent immigrants, the ones she claims to be helping,» said Kennedy.

Nine illegal immigrants charged with serious crimes in Fairfax County in 2026, left to right from top: Juan Arevalo Mendez, Moises Domingo Rico Rosales, Cristian Wilfredo Alvarenga Aguilar, Walvin Victor Hugo Garcia, Roni Mendez-Escobar, Israel Christopher Flores-Ortiz, Misael Lopez Gomez, Maldin Anibal Guzman-Videz and Luis Alonzo Sort-Portillo. (DHS)
He accused Spanberger of shielding illegal immigrant criminals from consequences «by blocking ICE at every turn,» saying, «Victims’ faces should haunt the governor when she looks in the mirror.»
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«Every murder, rape, and robbery by an illegal alien was preventable if they had never been allowed in and let stay here,» he emphasized, concluding, «They didn’t have to die. She only had to follow the law, not her agenda.»