The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is urging officials in Dane County, Wisconsin, to detain a Nicaraguan national accused of sexually assaulting elderly residents at a care facility. DHS has criticized the county, which it describes as a “sanctuary jurisdiction,” for its policies that they claim hinder cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Immigrant Faces Serious Charges
Julio Cesar Morales-Jarquin, 31, is currently in local custody and faces two counts of second-degree sexual assault of an elderly victim. The charges stem from an incident reported last month at a residential care facility in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. Authorities were alerted when an employee was suspected of assaulting vulnerable residents.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a detainer request on April 27, requesting that Morales-Jarquin be held in custody pending further action. DHS is now publicly calling on Dane County officials not to release him, emphasizing the severity of the accusations.
DHS Criticizes “Sanctuary” Policies
The Department of Homeland Security has accused Dane County of operating as a “sanctuary jurisdiction” that frequently refuses to honor ICE detainers. According to DHS, the county has, in the past, provided ICE with very short notice, sometimes as little as 30 minutes, to take custody of individuals held in their jail.
Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated, “This illegal alien is charged with two counts of sexual assault of an elderly victim at an assisted living facility. This dirtbag was released into the country by the Biden Administration. DHS is calling on sanctuary politicians in Dane County, Wisconsin, to NOT release this criminal from jail back onto the streets to commit more crimes.”
Bis added, “We need Wisconsin sanctuary politicians to cooperate with us to remove criminals from our country.”
Background of Entry
DHS reports that Morales-Jarquin entered the United States in 2023 under the Biden administration’s humanitarian parole program for Nicaragua. Although this program was later terminated, DHS asserts that he has remained in the country unlawfully.
The agency’s public appeal highlights a recurring tension between federal immigration enforcement and local jurisdictions with sanctuary policies. The case underscores DHS’s stance on prioritizing the detention and removal of individuals accused of serious crimes, particularly those involving vulnerable populations.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Dane County Executive’s Office for comment on the matter.
