An illegal immigrant who had been ordered deported escaped from a detention center in Virginia by using bed sheets and remained on the run for five days.
Dennis Arnoldo Zeledon Hernandez, a Salvadoran national, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his escape from the Bowling Green detention facility on July 2, 2023, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Zeledon, 33, was taken into ICE custody following his arrest on May 14, 2023, in York, Virginia. He faced charges of DUI, carrying a concealed weapon, and child neglect.
On the day of the escape, Zeledon managed to slip out of a building at the Caroline Detention Facility, ran across a field, and used bed sheets to scale a fence. He then climbed onto the roof, jumped down, and fled into nearby woods.
After two or three days on the run, Zeledon contacted a Spanish-speaking man outside a restaurant who allowed him to use his phone. The man’s friend agreed to pick him up and drive him to North Carolina.
Zeledon was captured on July 7, 2023, in an apartment complex in Durham, North Carolina, following a multi-agency manhunt. The U.S. Marshals took him into custody.
Zeledon had crossed the U.S. border illegally in 2016 and was initially detained by ICE. However, he was later released after a judge granted his bond. Zeledon missed a court hearing in 2019, and a judge ordered his removal from the U.S. He never left, leading to his eventual arrest.
Earlier this month, Zeledon was also sentenced for obstructing an agency proceeding.
ICE Director Liana Castano emphasized the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety and the integrity of the immigration system. “Apprehending individuals who try to evade lawful custody is a priority,” she said, “and it reinforces our commitment to upholding the law and protecting our communities.”
Related topics:
- Over 27,000 Foreign Immigrants in Malaysia Return Home Through Government Program
- Haitian Immigrants and Supporters Stand Firm Amid Trump’s Threats, Preparing for the Fight Ahead
- German Start-Ups Urge Government to Simplify Visa Rules and Speed Up Processing for Global Talent
