Republican Congressman Grills DA on Whether Convicted Sex Predator's Light Sentence Was Influenced by Immigration Status

"Gill read a portion of a policy from Descano's office that says in some cases, the detrimental impact of deportation on a family should be weighed. Gill pressed Descano if that policy was in part why Ander Cortez-Mendez, 21, was given a suspended 90-day jail sentence and charged with consensual sex with a minor. The illegal migrant was convicted in 2024 for the alleged sexual abuse of a minor. Ander Cortez-Mendez is a convicted sex offender, and exactly the type of illegal alien that ICE officers seek to remove from Washington, D.C. and Virginia."

"At a Thursday hearing, Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano faced tough questioning over policies related to his office's handling of criminal illegal aliens. Gill used his time on Thursday to focus on the case. Descano argued that the eventual charge was evidentiary-based and that the policy Gill mentioned should not have had an influence on the case."

"Okay, this is a Guatemalan illegal alien who was arrested in March of 2024. He was initially charged with quote,' carnal knowledge of a 13-to-14-year-old.' Just for those of us who aren't lawyers, can you describe just very briefly, what does carnal of a 13-to-14-year-old mean in this context? Gill asked. Well, sir, generally, a charge like that would typically refer to underage sex, Descano said."

"We refuse to allow such offenders to continue to threaten the residents of our neighborhoods. ICE Washington, D.C. and our law enforcement partners will continue to arrest and remove criminal aliens from the streets of our communities. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Washington, D.C. Field Office Director Russell Hott said in a statement."

A congressional representative questioned a commonwealth’s attorney about office policies for handling criminal illegal aliens. The representative read a policy stating that in some cases the harmful effects of deportation on a family should be weighed. He pressed whether that approach affected the outcome for Ander Cortez-Mendez, a 21-year-old convicted in 2024 for alleged sexual abuse of a minor. The representative challenged the reduction of charges and the suspended 90-day jail sentence. The prosecutor argued the eventual charge was based on evidence and that the cited policy should not have influenced the case. Immigration enforcement officials characterized the individual as a criminal offender targeted for removal and said they would continue arrests and removals.

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