BALTIMORE, MD – Federal immigration authorities have taken into custody a Honduran national with a violent criminal history after Prince George’s County released him despite an active immigration detainer, officials announced this week.
ICE identified the suspect as Rafael Aguilar, who was charged with attempted murder and later convicted of second-degree assault in connection with a stabbing that occurred April 19, 2025. Investigators said Aguilar attacked a man from behind, stabbing him in the back as the victim walked home.
According to ICE, the Baltimore Field Office lodged a detainer against Aguilar with the Prince George’s County Adult Detention Center on August 19, 2025, seeking to take custody of him following his criminal proceedings. However, county officials declined to honor the detainer and released Aguilar on January 6 after he served just 141 days of a 10-year sentence.
ICE officers located and arrested Aguilar in Maryland on January 13. He has been issued a notice to appear before an immigration judge and remains in federal custody pending deportation proceedings.
ICE criticizes noncooperation policy in Prince George’s County
“By releasing Aguilar instead of cooperating with federal law enforcement, local officials in Prince George’s County chose politics over public safety,” said ICE Baltimore Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins. “When sanctuary jurisdictions refuse to honor ICE detainers for egregious criminal illegal aliens, they knowingly endanger the public.”
Federal authorities said the agency will continue to pursue custody transfers and enforcement operations when local jurisdictions decline cooperation. ICE maintains that direct jail transfers are safer and more efficient than community arrests.
• Rafael Aguilar, a Honduran national, arrested by ICE Baltimore Jan. 13
• Previously charged with attempted murder and convicted of assault in Maryland
• Released by Prince George’s County despite active immigration detainer
Aguilar remains detained by ICE while his immigration case proceeds before the Justice Department’s immigration court.