A person facing deportation managed to break free from a detention facility in Virginia by fashioning a makeshift escape with bed sheets, evading authorities for five days.
Dennis Arnoldo Zeledon Hernandez received a sentence of one year and six months in prison following his audacious escape from the Bowling Green facility on July 2, 2023, as reported by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Monday.
A Salvadoran migrant found himself in ICE custody after being arrested on May 14, 2023, in York, Va., for DUI, possession of a concealed weapon, and child neglect.
According to the agency, he exited a structure at the Caroline Detention Facility, dashed across a field, utilized sheets to ascend a fence, and then made his way onto a roof. He subsequently leaped to the ground and escaped into the forest, according to the agency.
After evading capture for a couple of days, Zeledon encountered a Spanish-speaking individual near a restaurant who kindly permitted him to use his phone to reach out to a friend. His friend offered to drive him to North Carolina.
On July 7, 2023, he was apprehended by US Marshals at an apartment complex in Durham after a coordinated manhunt involving multiple agencies.
In 2016, Zeledon made his way across the border, was taken into custody by ICE, but was eventually released into the US following a judge’s approval of his bond.
He did not show up for his subsequent court hearing in 2019, leading a judge to mandate his expulsion from the US.
However, he remained present.
Earlier this month, Zeledon received a sentence for hindering an agency process.
The Director of the Washington, DC Field Office for Enforcement and Removal Operations emphasized in a statement that the recent arrest underscores the vital role of collaboration among law enforcement agencies in maintaining public safety and preserving the integrity of the immigration system.
“Apprehending noncitizens who attempt to evade lawful custody is a priority, as it reinforces our commitment to enforcing the law and protecting our communities,” Castano said.