FIRST ON FOX: The Department of Homeland Security blasted Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger after a red county’s cooperation with the agency led to swift justice for an illegal immigrant accused of killing a child.

DHS accused Spanberger of creating a «hotbed» for illegal immigrant violence with her day one order rescinding former Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s 287(g) agreement, which cut cooperative ties between ICE and Virginia State Police, fish and game wardens and state corrections officials, after the latest gruesome incident.

Mexican national Raul Genesis Ortiz Moran is accused of sexually assaulting a toddler in rural Louisa County, halfway between Richmond and Charlottesville.

«This horrific tragedy was completely avoidable because this illegal alien should have never been in our country. Governor Spanberger’s sanctuary policies have made Virginia a hotbed for illegal alien crime,» Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis exclusively told Fox News Digital.

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The girl’s mother rushed the injured 2-year-old to a sheriff’s office in neighboring Goochland County, where deputies attempted to resuscitate the child, who ultimately died.

Goochland and Louisa authorities cooperated directly with ICE, who quickly took Ortiz Moran into federal custody, Fox News Digital has learned.

«This monster sexually assaulted and murdered a 2-year-old girl in Virginia,» Bis said.

DHS UNLOADS ON ‘SANCTUARY CALAMITY’ VIRGINIA AFTER ILLEGAL ALIEN ACCUSED OF HEINOUS CRIME RELEASED: ‘SICKO’

Gov. Abigail Spanberger reads from a notebook in Richmond. (Mike Kropf/Getty Images; DHS)

«Thanks to the cooperation of our local law enforcement partners, this killer is off the streets and will face justice for his crimes.»

In response, a spokesperson for Spanberger said the Democrat «strongly believes violent criminals who are in the United States illegally should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and deported.

«Under Governor 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. Virginia state law enforcement agencies also continue to participate in task forces and interagency cooperation with federal agencies.» 

The spokesperson added Spanberger strives to protect Virginia’s children.

Ortiz Moran was arrested on charges of murder and aggravated sexual battery. The mother, who brought the girl to police from her home near Gum Spring, is reportedly the suspect’s girlfriend.

Louisa County Sheriff Donald Lowe called the incident an «unimaginable tragedy» in a statement, adding his deputies will «thoroughly investigate» the case.

Lowe told Richmond’s ABC affiliate he was afraid Ortiz Moran was «going to bolt,» so his office called ICE.

Goochland County Sheriff Steve Creasy told the outlet he is proud of the deputies who attempted to save the child and pledged to assist other authorities as needed.

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Abigail Spanberger takes the oath for governor of Virginia during inaugural activities at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., Jan. 17, 2026. (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP Photo)

DHS reiterated that Ortiz Moran’s case is only the latest in several violent or troubling incidents involving illegal immigrants in Virginia since Spanberger took office in January.

Officials noted ICE lodged a detainer for El Salvadoran national Juan Arevalo Mendez in June after he was arrested on rape and abduction charges in Fairfax County.

Another case involved Mexican illegal immigrant Samuel Flores de Dios in Fredericksburg, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison on CSAM charges involving the production of child sexual abuse material.

Other illegal immigrants either detained or subject to detainers by ICE have been charged with indecent exposure, abduction of a person with intent to defile, carjacking, assault, robbery and more.

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Most of the cases ICE listed occurred in Democrat-controlled jurisdictions like Fairfax County, Prince William County, Loudoun County and the independent city of Newport News.

DHS said the recent cases have increased pressure on Spanberger and Democratic commonwealth’s attorneys to cooperate with ICE as some Virginia jurisdictions also face congressional scrutiny.

Nicaragua’s lawmakers announced plans to abolish elections in the Central American country, following through on President Daniel Ortega’s declaration over the weekend that there would be no more elections, which enraged the international community.

The move was revealed on Tuesday by Nicaragua’s congress, which is firmly in the hands of Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo. Lawmakers said planned constitutional overhaul will ensure Nicaragua’s «peace, security and stability.»

With the announcement, lawmakers are making good on Ortega’s promise of no more elections, further closing off any potential path for the opposition to challenge the government he leads with Murillo, whom constitutional reforms elevated from vice president to «co-president.»

«There won’t be any more elections here for them to try to seize the government and seize power,» Ortega said on Sunday during a speech commemorating the 1979 Sandinista revolution, in which Ortega participated in the overthrow of the U.S.-backed dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza.

NICARAGUA’S ORTEGA SAYS COUNTRY WILL ‘NEVER AGAIN’ HOLD ELECTIONS, SHUTTING OUT OPPOSITION

«The days when parties backed by the Yankees (United States) and the Somocistas would return to power are over — never again,» he declared.

The declaration appeared to eliminate the possibility of a future electoral challenge as Ortega and Murillo continue consolidating control over the country’s political institutions.

Ortega and Murillo expanded their authority through sweeping constitutional changes that took effect in 2025. The reforms included extending the presidential term from five years to six and placing the legislative, judicial and electoral institutions under the authority of the presidency.

The pair now exercise control over nearly every branch of government, including the armed forces, police and judiciary.

Ortega, Nicaragua’s longest-serving leader, has remained in power until early 2028, although his statement on Sunday effectively canceled Nicaragua’s next elections, which had been scheduled for November 2027.

Critics say Ortega had already effectively eliminated meaningful electoral competition during elections in 2011, 2016 and 2021.

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President Daniel Ortega’s promise to abolish elections prompted widespread condemnation from the international community. (Carlos Becerra/Bloomberg)

Many prominent opposition leaders have been imprisoned, forced into exile or stripped of their Nicaraguan citizenship, while opposition parties and independent civic organizations have lost their legal status.

A United Nations group of experts has accused the Ortega-Murillo government of systematically violating human rights as part of a campaign to eliminate criticism and preserve its hold on power. The experts said some alleged violations may amount to crimes against humanity.

The government launched a violent crackdown on anti-government protests in 2018. More than 300 people were killed during the unrest, according to international human rights groups.

Ortega’s effort to abolish elections prompted widespread condemnation from foreign governments, including the U.S.

«Daniel Ortega’s declaration that under his family’s dictatorship, Nicaragua will never again hold elections lays bare their true authoritarian nature. Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo have abandoned even the pretense of popular consent,» U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday.

«The Nicaraguan people have the right to choose their own leaders through democratic elections. The United States calls on the international community to join forces to demonstrate to the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship that it cannot expect to maintain business as usual with other nations when it is thwarting the basic tenets of our democratic hemisphere,» he added.

The move to abolish elections was announced by Nicaragua’s congress, which is firmly in the hands of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo. (INTI OCON/AFP)

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The Trump administration has described the Ortega-Murillo government as a dictatorship and imposed sanctions on members of the government and their allies. The State Department has also enacted visa restrictions targeting more than 2,350 Nicaraguan officials and their family members.

Volker Türk, the United Nations’ high commissioner for human rights, denounced Nicaragua’s legislative ambitions on Wednesday, saying that «people of all political viewpoints must be allowed to vote and run for office.»

«These latest developments further deepen the severe restrictions on fundamental freedoms, the dismantling of civic space, and the steady erosion of the rule of law,» Türk said in a statement.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

La titular de la Secretaría de Educación, Arely Argueta, afirmó que hasta el momento no se han recibido denuncias de extorsión contra docentes, escuelas o colegios del sistema público de Honduras.

No obstante, reconoció que los reportes surgidos en instituciones privadas también generan preocupación para las autoridades educativas.

“En el sistema público no hemos tenido denuncias de extorsión para docentes; sin embargo, los casos en el sector privado también nos preocupan, porque nuestro deber es velar por todos los maestros a nivel nacional”, expresó la funcionaria.

Las declaraciones de Argueta se produjeron luego de que la Federación Nacional de Instituciones Educativas Privadas de Honduras (Fenieph) denunciara que algunos colegios han cerrado sus puertas o cambiado de ubicación debido a amenazas y cobros ilegales atribuidos a estructuras criminales.

Ante el contexto de inseguridad, la ministra informó que la Secretaría de Educación mantiene coordinación con la Secretaría de Seguridad para reforzar los patrullajes policiales en los alrededores de escuelas y colegios.

Argueta pidió a padres de familia, estudiantes y docentes no alarmarse al observar presencia policial cerca de los centros educativos, ya que se trata de medidas preventivas orientadas a fortalecer la seguridad en las comunidades escolares.

También subrayó que la denuncia ciudadana es clave para atender cualquier situación irregular, incluyendo casos de narcomenudeo o amenazas contra miembros de la comunidad educativa.

“Si tenemos denuncias, las vamos a atender directamente desde el centro educativo afectado”, aseguró.

El presidente de la Fenieph, Carlos Sabillón, sostuvo que la extorsión afecta desde hace varios años a instituciones privadas, principalmente en Tegucigalpa y San Pedro Sula.

Según explicó, algunos colegios cerraron operaciones como consecuencia de las amenazas, mientras otros, especialmente aquellos que funcionan en locales alquilados, se trasladaron a diferentes barrios o colonias para intentar reducir el riesgo.

Sabillón indicó que las llamadas extorsivas se han convertido en una de las principales formas de intimidación. Por esa razón, algunos centros educativos decidieron cancelar sus líneas telefónicas fijas.

El dirigente advirtió que este delito, históricamente relacionado con el transporte público, pequeños negocios y comerciantes, se ha extendido hacia el sector educativo y pone en riesgo la estabilidad financiera de las instituciones privadas.

Aunque Educación descarta reportes en el sistema público, Argueta insistió en que cualquier denuncia será atendida en coordinación con las autoridades de Seguridad.

Por su parte, Sabillón pidió fortalecer las acciones contra las estructuras criminales y evitar que más colegios tengan que cerrar o abandonar las comunidades donde prestan sus servicios.

La situación evidencia una diferencia entre ambos sectores: mientras las autoridades no registran denuncias en escuelas públicas, los representantes de la educación privada aseguran que la extorsión ya provocó cierres, traslados y medidas internas de protección.

El contraste también ha llevado a las autoridades a reforzar la vigilancia preventiva y a solicitar que cualquier amenaza sea comunicada de inmediato.

Educación sostiene que la ausencia de denuncias formales no elimina la necesidad de mantener controles, mientras la Fenieph reclama una respuesta más contundente para proteger a estudiantes, docentes, propietarios y trabajadores de los centros afectados.