DHS Calls on Sanctuary Politicians in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina to Honor ICE Detainer and Not Release a Previously-Deported Rapist

Since January 20, 2025, Mecklenburg County has been responsible for 63% of all non-honored ICE detainers in the state of North Carolina

WASHINGTON - The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement calling on sanctuary politicians in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, to honor a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer for an illegal alien who had been arrested for burglary and rape.

On October 19, ICE lodged a detainer asking North Carolina authorities not to release Richard Calix-Valle, an illegal alien from Honduras, who had been arrested for first-degree burglary and second-degree forcible rape.

Richard Calix-Valle

Calix-Valle is currently being held in the Mecklenburg County Jail.

The latest ICE data reveals that from January 20, 2025, to November 1, 2026, the state of North Carolina has refused to honor 381 ICE detainers. Of that total, 240 non-honored detainers were in Mecklenburg County alone, with 183 in Mecklenburg County Jail and 57 in Mecklenburg County Jail Central. This accounts for 63% of all non-honored ICE detainers in the state of North Carolina.

"This illegal alien has been arrested for first-degree burglary and second-degree forcible rape in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Sanctuary politicians in Mecklenburg County are responsible for 63% of all non-honored ICE detainers in the state since President Trump returned to office," said Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin. "We are calling on sanctuary politicians not only in North Carolina, but across the country, to honor ICE detainers and work with us to secure the Homeland. When sanctuary politicians release violent felons and rapists back onto the streets, it makes our mission needlessly harder. The Department of Homeland Security will always protect the backyard of every American citizen across the country."

Calix-Valle first illegally entered the United States through Texas in 2014. He was issued a final order of removal on December 8, 2016. He has since been deported FOUR times, in 2014 (twice), 2016, and 2017.

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