FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (7News) — A 19-year-old illegal immigrant who was convicted of assaulting nine girls in the hallways of Fairfax High School was released from jail to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Monday, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office told 7News.

The county jail released Israel Flores Ortiz at 11:40 a.m. His release was cited as “sentenced served.” The original release was scheduled for Sept. 3, 2026.

Virginians For Safe Communities President Sean Kennedy is a public safety watchdog and a member of the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Advisory Board. He told 7News he has been following this case closely.

“It’s surprising, but it’s very good news the sheriff’s office is cooperating with ICE on making sure this individual is being removed,” Kennedy said.

In a statement to 7News, a spokesperson for ICE confirmed they had Flores Ortiz in their custody, and they were moving through the legal process to deport him.

“On Aug. 31, ICE officers arrested Israel Flores-Ortiz following his release from the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center,” the spokesperson said. “On Aug. 10, a Justice Department immigration judge ordered Flores-Ortiz removed from the United States. Flores-Ortiz will remain in ICE custody pending his removal from the country.”

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ICE had issued a detainer against Flores Ortiz, but prior to Monday’s transfer, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office did not previously say if they were going to honor it.

In recent years, 7News On Your Side has extensively reported on Sheriff Stacey Kincaid’s resistance to honor ICE detainers. She even testified to members of Congress she doesn’t honor these requests unless there’s a judicial warrant.

7News On Your Side asked the sheriff’s office if the Flores Ortiz case signals a wider policy shift regarding ICE cooperation.

As of publication, the office has not answered that question. They only sent a brief statement confirming they released Flores Ortiz to ICE custody in accordance with the Virginia law allowing them to make such a transfer no more than five days before an inmate’s original release date.

Flores Ortiz was released three days earlier than planned.

“I’m not sure this is a shift on behalf of the sheriff’s office, but it’s a very high-profile case with a lot of public scrutiny and a lot of very outraged parents who, I think if they had not cooperated with ICE and this individual was freed back into the community let alone attend public school again, there would be a lot of blowback,” Kennedy said.

7News On Your Side has reported on this public outcry.

Earlier this year, 7News was the first to tell you that Flores Ortiz was accused of groping girls at school.

READ MORE | Illegal immigrant Fairfax High student found guilty of groping girls

Flores Ortiz was ultimately accused of assaulting 13 girls, some of them were as young as 13-years-old.

He was found guilty of assaulting nine girls and although he faced up to nine years behind bars, he got less than six months in jail.

One of the teenage victims spoke with 7News’ Nick Minock shortly after Flores Ortiz’s conviction.

“It’s impacted me because back then, I didn’t have to look around. I didn’t have to look around and make sure nobody was going to touch me. Now, I have to make sure I look around,” the victim told 7News in April.

Flores Ortiz is from El Salvador and crossed the southern border in 2024. ICE said he was released into the country during the Biden Administration.

Moving forward, Kennedy said he hopes the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office’s cooperation with ICE in this case means a change in policies.

“I hope this is a turning point and that the sheriff’s office no longer stands by its policy of non-cooperation with ICE,” Kennedy said.