Honduran National Arrested in Cobb County for Alleged Sexual Assault of Minor; ICE Issues Detainer
Authorities in Cobb County, Georgia, have arrested a 29-year-old Honduran national accused of sexually assaulting a young girl over a multi-year period. Juan Carlos Salvador-Diaz is currently being held at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center, facing severe charges related to the alleged abuse of a 10-year-old victim.
According to preliminary investigation details and arrest records, the alleged assaults took place on separate occasions in 2023 and 2025. While the victim is currently 10 years old, investigators are working to establish her exact age at the time the first alleged incident occurred in 2023. Following his booking into the local jail, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a formal detainer against Salvador-Diaz. This action indicates that federal authorities believe he is present in the United States illegally and intend to take him into custody for potential deportation proceedings should he be released from local custody.
The involvement of federal immigration authorities highlights the ongoing procedures between local law enforcement and ICE regarding non-citizens accused of serious crimes. An ICE detainer is a request for a local jail to hold an individual for up to 48 hours beyond their scheduled release time to facilitate a transfer to federal custody. While the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office ended its participation in the 287(g) program in 2021, the administration has maintained that it continues to cooperate with federal partners when dealing with suspects accused of violent felonies and crimes against children.
As the case moves forward, legal experts emphasize that the filing of an ICE detainer and criminal charges are not evidence of guilt. Salvador-Diaz is entitled to due process and is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The judicial process will require the prosecution to present evidence substantiating the claims of abuse, while the suspect will have the opportunity to present a defense. It remains unclear if Salvador-Diaz has yet retained legal counsel or when his initial bond hearing will take place.
