Democrats continue to be responsible for some of the worst abuses of American citizens by non-citizens, and so far they have suffered no real fallout, politically or legally.
The latest incident occurred in deep-blue California, whose sanctuary policies coddle illegal immigrants at the expense of American citizens.
An illegal alien who was already facing burglary charges was released by a Bay Area judge one day before he allegedly stabbed a 68-year-old California man to death outside the victim’s home, prompting the Department of Homeland Security to demand that state officials transfer him to federal custody.
Marcos Iriarte-Valdez, 38, had been arrested for allegedly violating the terms of his home detention when a Contra Costa County judge ordered his release on his own recognizance on a Wednesday.
Prosecutors allege that the following day, Iriarte-Valdez entered the garage of Todd Stewart, a retired Martinez resident who had lived in the neighborhood for about 40 years, while attempting another burglary.
According to prosecutors, Stewart confronted the suspect outside his home.
Authorities allege that Iriarte-Valdez attempted to flee before fatally stabbing Stewart during the encounter.
Investigators arrested Iriarte-Valdez the following Friday after using automated license plate reader technology and information provided by community members to locate him.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains in custody without bail.
DHS placed an immigration detainer on Iriarte-Valdez on Sept. 23, 2025, and later called on California Gov. Gavin Newsom to transfer him to federal authorities for deportation proceedings.
The killing occurred one day after a judge ordered Iriarte-Valdez released on his own recognizance despite the pending burglary charges stemming from incidents involving occupied homes earlier that year.
He had been taken into custody after authorities alleged that he violated the terms of his home detention, although officials have not publicly disclosed the specific condition that was violated.
One of the alleged victims in the earlier burglary cases told KTVU-TV that his 83-year-old wife discovered an intruder inside their home during an April break-in after noticing the suspect’s reflection and screaming.
Contra Costa County prosecutors filed an extensive list of charges against Iriarte-Valdez.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the charges include murder, inflicting corporal injury on a spouse, three counts of burglary, receiving stolen property, trespassing, unlawfully entering a residence, loitering and violating a court-issued protective order.
Prosecutors also added three sentencing enhancements.
Those enhancements allege that the killing occurred during or immediately after a burglary, that the defendant personally used a deadly weapon, identified as a knife, and that the offense was committed while he was free on bail or released on his own recognizance.
The final enhancement specifically alleges that the crime occurred while Iriarte-Valdez was on pretrial release, a legal designation that can result in additional penalties if prosecutors prove the allegation in court.
The filing also includes a charge of inflicting corporal injury on a spouse, although publicly available records have not provided additional details about that allegation or identified a separate domestic violence incident connected to the case.
The offices of Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton, the Martinez Police Department and the Contra Costa County Superior Court did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
DHS blasted Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom online over the murder.
“CA Governor [Gavin Newsom] must not release this murderer from jail and turn him over to us so we can REMOVE him from our nation,” the department’s post said.
“The safest way to arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens from our streets is by lodging arrest detainers,” a DHS official told Fox News.
“Because sanctuary cities refuse to work with ICE law enforcement, criminal illegal aliens are released from jails into American communities to perpetuate more crimes,” the official added.
“Seven of the top 10 safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE.”
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