Illegal alien vandalizes Iwo Jima Memorial in Quantico with sledgehammer

WASHINGTON - On Oct. 21, an illegal alien used a sledgehammer to desecrate the Iwo Jima memorial in Quantico, Virginia.

Local reporting outlined how the suspect decapitated one of the bodies from the memorial and was continuing to vandalize the memorial when Price William County police arrived at the scene.

Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano, an illegal alien from Mexico, has been charged with felony destruction of property and trespassing with intent to damage property. He also has a criminal record; he was arrested for trespassing in Stafford County in 2022.

"This hateful illegal alien attacked a memorial to our brave Marines, decapitating one of the statues with a sledgehammer," said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. "He had been granted DACA by the Obama administration. Criminals like this who clearly hate America have no business being in our country. We must never allow the history of our great nation to be torn down by illegal aliens who have zero respect for our country and our values. This criminal will soon face justice."

Soriano illegally entered the United States at an unknown date and location in 1999. He was granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status in October 2014 by the Obama administration, which was renewed by the Biden administration. His DACA has since expired and a renewal request was denied on Oct. 23, 2026.