Honduran National Arrested in Georgia for Sexual Assault of 10-Year-Old Girl; ICE Detainer Lodged
A 29-year-old Honduran national has been arrested in Marietta, Georgia, on charges of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl, prompting federal immigration authorities to issue a detainer request.
Deep Search
Juan Carlos Salvador-Diaz was taken into custody on January 30, 2026, by local authorities in Cobb County. According to arrest warrants cited by local media, Salvador-Diaz faces two felony counts of sexual battery. The allegations stem from two separate incidents involving the same juvenile victim—one occurring in December 2023 and the other in August 2025.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Salvador-Diaz is a Honduran citizen who entered the United States illegally in 2019. Following his arrest, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer with the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office. An ICE detainer is a formal request that a local jail hold a suspect for an additional 48 hours after their release date to allow federal agents to take them into custody for deportation proceedings.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement condemning the alleged crimes, describing the suspect as a “monster” and urging local authorities to honor the detainer request to prevent his release back into the community.
Objections
While the allegations have drawn sharp condemnation from federal officials, legal and civil rights advocates urge caution regarding the rapid politicization of individual criminal cases. Immigrant advocacy groups, such as the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR), have historically warned that highlighting the immigration status of suspects in violent crimes can lead to the demonization of entire communities and does not reflect the statistical reality of crime rates among immigrants.
Furthermore, civil rights organizations often point out that ICE detainers are administrative requests, not judicial warrants, and can raise due process concerns. In Cobb County specifically, the Sheriff’s Office ended its participation in the 287(g) program—a partnership that deputized local officers to enforce federal immigration laws—in 2021, citing a need to build trust with the immigrant community so victims and witnesses feel safe reporting crimes.
From a legal defense perspective, Salvador-Diaz is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Defense attorneys in similar sex offense cases typically scrutinize the forensic evidence and witness credibility, arguing that the gravity of the accusation should not bypass the constitutional right to a fair trial.
Background Info
This arrest occurs against a backdrop of intense debate over immigration enforcement in Georgia. Cobb County was once known for its strict adherence to the 287(g) program under previous leadership, but shifted policy in recent years to focus on local community policing rather than federal immigration enforcement.
Federal records indicate Salvador-Diaz entered the U.S. without inspection in 2019. Under federal law, foreign nationals convicted of aggravated felonies, including sexual abuse of a minor, are subject to mandatory deportation and are permanently barred from re-entering the United States. The case is expected to reignite local discussions about the cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
nationaltoday.com
cis.org
ajc.com
