A Salvador man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for raping an 11-year-old girl in Virginia Beach

He was an illegal immigrant from El Salvador convicted A man will serve 30 years in prison for repeatedly raping an 11-year-old girl in Virginia Beach, local officials said Wednesday.

The Virginia Beach Police Office shared Ricardo Leonel Mejia’s custody case on X and cited “numerous public inquiries” about Mejia’s case.

“Mejia, citizen El Salvador“He will serve his 30-year sentence at the Virginia Department of Corrections before being transferred to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”

The case has sparked controversy among Virginia leaders who question whether the state should limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger says one of her first acts in office will be to reverse Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s immigration enforcement policies, making Virginia a “sanctuary state,” according to the Republican Governors Association.

The policy would prevent local law enforcement from assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in cases like Mejia’s, where ICE issued a detention order for an illegal immigrant convicted of serious crimes.

Virginia gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earl Sears responded by sharing a post on X and saying she was “disgusted beyond words.”

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Mega, 35, was found guilty of multiple charges rape child under 13, indecent liberties with a minor, and statutory burglary after pleading guilty in Virginia Beach Circuit Court, according to documents seen by Fox News Digital.

The assaults occurred in 2024, when Mejia was hired to renovate a family’s bathroom.

The abuse came to light when the victim’s mother discovered him in her daughter’s bed after opening a locked door with a butter knife.

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Mejia fled the home through a window, but was later identified and arrested.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Mejia was in the country illegally and issued a detention order for him.

Following his sentence at the Virginia Department of Corrections, ICE said he would be transferred to custody for further processing.

During sentencing, Mejia apologized to the victim, saying, “I know I’m not the only one having a hard time. I’m sorry for the pain you’re going through in this process.”

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Mejia was booked into the Virginia Beach Correctional Center on Oct. 9, 2024, records show.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Virginia Beach Police Office for further comment.