ICE removes violent rapist and Salvadoran national from Maryland
WASHINGTON / February 25, 2026 — On Jan. 30, ICE Baltimore — with help from its partners at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center in Maryland — removed Ruben Alonso Hernandez-Lainez, a 29-year-old illegal criminal alien from El Salvador who was convicted of second-degree assault and second-degree rape in Fredrick County, Maryland. Fortunately, ICE arrested this monster before the Maryland legislature passed a law banning all partnerships between state and local law enforcement agencies and ICE.
“ICE could only arrest and remove this criminal illegal alien thanks to our 287(g) partnership with Frederick County,” said ICE Deputy Director Charles Wall. “It’s profoundly disappointing that since then, the Maryland legislature is trying to undermine this critical law enforcement relationship between state and local police and ICE. These partnerships keep rapists and public safety threats like Hernandez out of our communities.”
Hernandez illegally entered the United States in 2021, at an unknown location. In May 2022, Border Patrol officials encountered him near Hidalgo, Texas, but were forced to release him into the United States thanks to the Biden administration’s catch-and-release policies. He then went on to assault and rape an innocent victim.
On May 15, 2023, Maryland’s Frederick Police Department arrested him on charges of rape and assault. In February 2025, a judge convicted and sentenced him to three years and four months in prison, with all but 18 months suspended, and placed him on five years of supervised probation.
On Jan. 20, 2026, an immigration judge issued Hernandez’s final order of removal, and on Jan. 30, ICE removed him from the United States.
“The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office 287(g) partnership in the adult detention center has once again kept a convicted rapist and violent criminal from being released back into the community to reoffend and victimize more people,” said Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins. “This demonstrates the real public safety value of the 287(g) program. After 18 years of success, this very effective partnership will be ended because of legislation passed in Maryland. Violent criminals like Hernandez will now be released and ICE will be forced to make apprehensions on the street rather a safe custody transfer in the jail. ICE agents have an enforcement mission. This will quickly prove to be disastrous legislation, and Marylanders will be at risk more than ever before.”
You can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
Learn more about ICE’s public safety mission on X at @ICEgov.
Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.gov)
