Sanctuary County Judges Gave Lenient Sentences To Illegal Migrant Sex Offenders, Investigation Found

A local news investigation found that Maryland judges in a “sanctuary” jurisdiction disproportionately handed down lenient sentences to illegal immigrants charged with child sex crimes.

FOX45 News combed through 99 child sex crime cases handled by Baltimore County Circuit Court judges over a 17-month time period, spanning from January 1, 2023 and May 31, 2024. Their investigation found that circuit court judges repeatedly gave light sentences to defendants who were living in the United States unlawfully, while simultaneously handing down harsher sentences to African Americans charged with similar crimes.

“I am appalled and angered that any child might be subjected to sexual abuse,” Maryland Democrat Rep. Kweisi Mfume said in reaction to the investigation’s findings, according to FOX45. “I have no sympathy for persons who are convicted of such crimes – whether they are undocumented migrants or American citizens.”

Some of the illegal immigrants examined in the investigation had been repeatedly deported from the U.S. and charged with egregious sex crimes, such as child rape.

Luis Portillo-Henriquez, an individual featured in the investigation, entered the U.S. unlawfully and had repeatedly been arrested by local Maryland Police in past years. However, after he was found guilty of raping a 14-year-old living in his Baltimore home and sentenced to 25 years in prison, his punishment was reduced to just 18 months jail time.