U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is taking aim at San Francisco’s “sanctuary city” policy–after an illegal immigrant was arrested in connection to the rapes of four women.
In a scathing statement by ICE, Orlando Vilchez Lazo, 36, has been dubbed the “ride-share rapist,” because he would drive around the city and pretend to be a driver for ride-share companies.
Vilchez Lazo allegedly committed four rapes–including one in 2013 and three in 2018. He would wait outside bars late at night, and would seemingly prey on drunk women who came out of bars looking for their ride.
After the woman entered his car, Vilchez Lazo would drive them to another location, where they’d be raped.
ICE is harping on the Vilchez Lazo case because they lodged a federal detainer for him–essentially, a formal request asking the city to notify ICE if the suspect is released from custody.
San Francisco does not honor detainers.
But despite San Francisco’s unwillingness to help deport a dangerous serial rapist, it might ultimately not matter: Vilchez Lazo might wind up never seeing freedom in any country again.
Vilchez Lazo is being held at the San Francisco Jail on a $4.2 million bail and faces life in prison if convicted.