ICE Requests 15-Month Detainer for Venezuelan Child Molester in Seattle
Homeland Security officials say local leaders are refusing to hand over Leomar Alexander Lopez Zambrano, citing a 15-month sentence and two child molestation convictions.
By Charlotte Dubois ·
A federal detainer is pending for Leomar Alexander Lopez Zambrano, a Venezuelan citizen convicted of two counts of child molestation. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has asked Seattle officials to hold him after his 15-month prison sentence ends. Local authorities have not yet agreed to cooperate with the federal request.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that sanctuary politicians in Washington are refusing to honor the detainer. He described the convicted man as a disgusting criminal who should be handed over to federal officers. Mullin emphasized that Zambrano has been convicted on two counts of child molestation.
The situation has intensified tensions between the Department of Homeland Security and leaders in Seattle. These city leaders are part of a group of jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The conflict is occurring immediately after the 2026 midterms, where Democrats regained majorities in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives.
Hans von Spakovsky, an immigration expert with Advancing American Freedom, believes the election results will embolden sanctuary jurisdictions. He told Fox News Digital that he has no doubt these areas will feel encouraged to stonewall immigration enforcement. He also suggested that Democrats might attempt to impeach Tom Homan, the current immigration czar, for imagined wrongs.
Spakovsky noted that he does not think the impeachment effort would be successful. However, he believes the attempt itself would increase defiance in local jurisdictions. He added that Democrats will likely try to use the congressional appropriations process to defund enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice.
The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the safest way to remove criminal illegal aliens is through arrest detainers. The agency noted that seven of the top 10 safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE. The department added that some sanctuary jurisdictions refuse to work with ICE, leading to the release of criminal aliens into communities.
Zambrano is approaching the end of his sentence. Without Seattle's cooperation, federal officials may not know when he exits jail. Seattle officials did not respond to requests for comment regarding his status. Dan Bongino, a conservative commentator, pointed out that Texas Governor Gina Hinojosa voted against sanctuary city restrictions in 2017. He argued that voters in border states are sending a message that they want their states to become sanctuary jurisdictions.
Mullin said that deportations will continue despite the political changes in Washington. He stated that sanctuary politicians prefer to release a convicted child molester rather than cooperate with federal law enforcement. The federal government is waiting for a response from the city to determine the next steps for Zambrano's custody.
