A Nicaraguan national released into the United States in 2023 now faces two counts of second-degree sexual assault against elderly nursing home residents in Wisconsin, where he worked as an employee. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has issued a detainer for his arrest, but local sanctuary policies may prevent federal agents from taking custody.
The Accused and the Charges
Julio Cesar Morales Jarquin entered the United States through the previous administration’s parole pipeline program. Despite the termination of that program in April 2025, he remained in the country illegally. Police say Morales Jarquin worked at an assisted living facility in Dane County when he allegedly committed the assaults against vulnerable elderly women under his care. Authorities charged him with two counts of second-degree sexual assault of an elderly victim.
Federal Agents Face Local Resistance
Department of Homeland Security official Lauren Bis urged Dane County officials not to release the suspect back into the community. She emphasized the severity of the charges and the threat to public safety. However, Dane County maintains sanctuary jurisdiction policies that require ICE agents to present signed judicial warrants before taking custody of detained individuals. Such warrants do not exist under current federal immigration law, creating a bureaucratic barrier that effectively shields criminal suspects from federal immigration enforcement regardless of the charges they face.
Because Dane County is a sanctuary county, local officials could release him back into the community. DHS is urging
Sanctuary Policy Standoff
The case highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local sanctuary jurisdictions. ICE agents cannot legally obtain the type of warrant Dane County demands, as immigration detainers operate under different legal authority than criminal arrest warrants. County officials have maintained these requirements despite criticism that they protect individuals charged with serious crimes. The standoff continues as federal authorities plead for cooperation while the suspect remains in local custody facing trial on the sexual assault charges.
What This Means
The incident raises questions about immigration vetting procedures and the employment screening process at care facilities. It also demonstrates how sanctuary policies can complicate federal efforts to remove individuals charged with violent crimes. As the legal proceedings continue, federal immigration officials remain unable to execute their detainer due to local policy barriers, leaving the outcome dependent on the criminal case and county cooperation decisions.
