Federal authorities say Homeland Security and ICE filed an arrest detainer for Angel David Rubio Marin, an undocumented Mexican national accused of using Robux in the Roblox game to solicit sexual images from children under 10, and the case has renewed criticism of sanctuary-style policies in Virginia that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Local police in Prince William County arrested Rubio Marin after investigators say he used in-game currency to entice at least three young children to send explicit images and videos. Officials say this came after earlier local charges for public masturbation, and that he had been released prior to the latest allegations.
“This sicko preyed on innocent children by offering to pay them in a video game currency in exchange for child pornography,” Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis told Fox News Digital in a statement. “This illegal alien was RELEASED from jail after an arrest for public masturbation. This case is a perfect example of why we need state and local cooperation with ICE.”
The political fight centers on Governor Abigail Spanberger’s decision to limit state cooperation with federal immigration authorities, a move that critics argue makes it harder to ensure dangerous offenders are held rather than released. From a Republican perspective, policies that reduce collaboration between state and federal agencies increase the risk to communities and tie officers’ hands when dealing with suspected criminal aliens.
Roblox and its currency, Robux, have become a troubling vector for predators because children can be seduced with virtual rewards that feel real to them. The platform says chat filters block image and video sharing inside the game, but prosecutors maintain predators can lure kids off-platform or exploit gaps in safety controls to get explicit material.
Those gaps are exactly why immigration detainers and local-federal coordination matter, advocates say, since detainers can help keep suspects in custody while federal authorities sort out immigration status and criminal risk. Republicans argue that without tools like 287(g) and timely detainers, dangerous suspects who are not U.S. citizens can slip back into communities.
Spanberger argued that requiring local cops to enforce federal immigration law distracts them from state duties and harms trust with residents. Critics respond that public safety should be the priority and that preserving evidence and holding dangerous suspects pending federal review is a basic law enforcement tool, not a political favor.
The directive signed by the governor reversed the 287(g) arrangements put in place by the previous administration, a program that allowed certain local officers to assist ICE under supervision. Supporters of restoring those partnerships say the move removed a layer of public safety oversight that helped prevent known offenders from being released back onto the streets.
For parents and community leaders, the human side is simple and urgent: children were targeted, and authorities must do everything practical to prevent predators from finding new ways to exploit them. Lawmakers and sheriffs who prioritize cooperation with federal authorities say they will push to restore policies that let local jails flag immigration detainers and hold suspects until federal action is taken.
Beyond enforcement, the case highlights the need for tech companies, parents, and law enforcement to coordinate on protection and education. Platforms popular with kids must keep tightening safeguards, families should know how in-game economies work, and police should have clear, rapid ways to work with federal partners when a suspected predator surfaces.
“We are calling on Virginia sanctuary politicians and Governor Spanberger to commit to not releasing this child predator back into Virginia neighborhoods,” Bis added. “No one wants this pedophile loose on American streets.”
