Three criminal illegal aliens accused of sex offenses against children were arrested in Virginia in late July, including one who entered the United States through Arizona before being released into the country by the Biden administration, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The arrests come less than two months after another criminal illegal alien who entered the United States through Arizona was also arrested in Virginia on charges involving alleged attempted abduction and indecent exposure.
All three suspects arrested in July are currently being held at the Middle River Regional Jail in Staunton, Virginia, where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged immigration detainers.
The three men are:
Efren Ramirez Escobedo, a Mexican national who was arrested on July 24 and charged with sexual assault involving a victim age 13-14 and sexual assault involving forcible intercourse. DHS says he illegally entered the United States at an unknown date and location.
Santos Bautista-Molina, a Honduran national who was arrested on July 27 and charged with nine counts of child solicitation and attempted sex offenses with a child under 15. DHS says he illegally entered the United States through Texas in September 2005.
Bayron Jose De Paz-Lopez, a Guatemalan national who was arrested on July 28 and charged with nine counts of child solicitation and attempted sex offense with a child under 15. DHS says De Paz-Lopez illegally entered the United States through Arizona in 2021 and was released into the country by the Biden administration.
Under Sanctuary Spanberger, Virginia has become the Commonwealth of Criminals.
ICE has lodged detainers for THREE illegal aliens who have all been arrested for sex crimes against CHILDREN in Staunton. @GovernorVA must cooperate with us and commit to NOT RELEASING these… https://t.co/OvmjLzLdJkpic.twitter.com/bkxrYmZiRh
On June 21, police in Annandale, Virginia, responded to reports that a man had exposed himself to a woman walking on a trail in a park. Police also received a report that a man had attempted to abduct a woman in the same park by stepping in front of her bicycle, forcing her to dismount, and attempting to drag her into the woods. The woman was able to escape.
Two days later, Fairfax County Police announced the arrest of Moises Domingo Rico Rosales, a Nicaraguan national. He was charged with abduction of a person with intent to defile and indecent exposure.
According to DHS, Rico Rosales had previously been arrested in 2024 on felony drug trafficking charges. ICE lodged an immigration detainer at the time, but Fairfax County officials did not honor the detainer and released him back into the community.
DHS says Rico Rosales had illegally entered the United States through Arizona in 2022, where he was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol. The Biden administration subsequently released him back into the country.
This illegal alien who EXPOSED HIS GENITALS to one woman and then tried to ABDUCT another was previously RELEASED by Fairfax County sanctuary politicians.
In the latest cases, ICE has lodged detainers for all three men arrested in July and is asking Virginia authorities to maintain custody of the suspects rather than release them.
“ICE has lodged detainers for three illegal aliens accused of sex crimes against children, all being held at the same jail in Staunton, Virginia,” stated DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “DHS is calling on Governor Abigail Spanberger and her fellow sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing these criminals from jail and to instead hand them over to ICE. Under Spanberger, the Commonwealth of Virginia has become a magnet for illegal alien crime. These reckless sanctuary policies are putting American lives at risk.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) highlighted a $1.6 million federal investment aimed at moving forward the long-planned construction of an air traffic control tower at Pinal Airpark.
Ciscomani visited the airpark last Thursday to discuss the funding and the next steps toward developing a dedicated tower at the facility, which currently operates without one.
The preliminary funding will help cover several stages of the project, including selecting a site, completing environmental reviews, developing the tower’s design, and beginning early construction-related work.
“Since 2023, I have worked in Congress to deliver an air traffic control tower to Pinal Airpark,” stated Congressman Ciscomani. “As Arizona’s only appropriator in the House or Senate, I have a unique responsibility to bring meaningful federal investments back home. This $1.6 million represents a major step toward building a tower that will enhance safety, support continued growth, and unlock new economic opportunities for Pinal County.”
The effort to bring a tower to Pinal Airpark has been a priority for Ciscomani since he entered Congress.
In 2023, he successfully secured language in the federal aviation reauthorization package intended to accelerate the process for developing an air traffic control tower at the airpark.
That provision was included in the House-passed FAA reauthorization legislation, helping lay the groundwork for the project now receiving federal funding.
The need for improved air traffic control infrastructure comes as Pinal Airpark continues to handle significant activity. According to the funding announcement, the facility accommodates more than 100,000 commercial and military flight operations annually.
Without a dedicated control tower, the airpark faces operational and safety challenges that could also affect its ability to accommodate future growth.
Pinal County Supervisor Stephen Miller credited Ciscomani with helping advance the project and pointed to its potential impact beyond aviation.
“Representative Ciscomani has led successful efforts in Congress to advance approval, design and construction of an air traffic control tower at Pinal Airpark to enhance aviation safety, strengthen military readiness, and drive job creation and economic growth throughout the region,” said Miller. “We are deeply grateful for Representative Ciscomani’s leadership and support in moving this critical project forward.”
The tower project also comes as Ciscomani seeks to bring additional federal dollars to Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District. Through this year’s federal funding bills, he is pursuing approximately $42.7 million for 20 projects throughout the district.
The Pinal Airpark funding is part of a broader effort to direct federal investment toward local infrastructure and development projects.
Ciscomani also highlighted the funding and partnership with Marana during an interview with KVOI.
Proud to advocate for bringing $42.7M back home to #AZ06 and to be one of the TOP members of Congress bringing these federal resources home to #AZ06.
Marana has been a great partner, and I am proud to work together to deliver RESULTS for our local community! 🌵 pic.twitter.com/5gB9E2b2UQ
— Congressman Juan Ciscomani (@RepCiscomani) August 20, 2026
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
A federal court has approved a $700 million nationwide settlement resolving a multi-state lawsuit against Google over allegations that the technology company unlawfully monopolized Android app distribution and in-app payment services.
Arizona was among the states that helped bring the case against Google in 2021, joining a coalition of attorney generals representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The lawsuit alleged that Google used its control over Android app distribution and Google Play billing to limit competition, reduce consumer choice, and charge consumers as much as 30% on certain transactions.
The settlement, approved August 18, ends a case that has been ongoing for approximately five years and establishes a $700 million fund to provide relief to eligible consumers nationwide.
Antitrust & Privacy Unit Chief Robert Bernheim and Senior Litigation Counsel Jayme Weber handled the case on behalf of Arizona.
Under the settlement, most of the $700 million fund will be distributed directly to consumers who made qualifying purchases through Google Play between August 16, 2016, and September 30, 2023.
Consumers who lived in Arizona or another participating jurisdiction during the relevant period may be eligible to receive a payment.
Most eligible consumers will not need to submit a claim form. Payments are expected to be distributed through electronic payment services, including PayPal and Venmo, according to the settlement distribution plan.
The settlement also requires Google to make significant changes to its business practices involving the Android ecosystem.
For at least five years, app developers will be permitted to use alternative billing systems, tell consumers about lower prices available outside Google’s billing system and distribute their apps through competing app stores without facing retaliation from Google.
Android users will also be permitted to download apps from sources outside the Google Play Store for at least seven years.
The changes are intended to provide consumers and app developers with greater choice in how applications are distributed and how purchases are processed.
The case was brought under the states’ parens patriae authority, which allows attorneys general to bring certain claims on behalf of consumers living in their respective jurisdictions.
The states alleged that Google’s practices resulted in consumers paying more for apps and in-app purchases while limiting their ability to choose alternative app stores and payment systems.
The states also alleged that Google made misleading representations concerning the risks of obtaining Android applications outside of the Google Play Store and regarding its billing practices.
Google has denied wrongdoing and, under the court’s final judgment, the settlement is not an admission or concession by Google of liability, fault, or wrongdoing.
U.S. District Judge James Donato of the Northern District of California issued the final approval order on August 18, funding the settlement and its distribution plan to be fair, reasonable, and adequate.
The court appointed Berkeley Research Group to assist the states with implementing the distribution plan and continued the appointment of Verita Global as settlement administrator.
The court will retain jurisdiction over the settlement’s implementation and distribution of the funds.
The court’s order also provides for a potential holdback of $93.62 million from an initial distribution if payments begin before a final ruling on attorney’s fees, costs, and incentive awards.
Any amount ultimately not awarded from that reserve would be returned to the settlement fund for subsequent distribution to eligible consumers.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The United States has surpassed $40 trillion in national debt, marking another record for the federal government and prompting renewed criticism from Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) over Washington’s continued spending and borrowing.
According to the Joint Economic Committee’s Debt Monitor, the national debt has increased by approximately $90,257.73 every second over the past year. That amounts to roughly $5.42 million per minute, $324.93 million per hour, and $7.8 billion per day.
The national debt crossed the $40 trillion threshold on August 18, 2026, according to U.S. Treasury data.
The milestone came less than five months after the national debt surpassed $39 trillion in March, highlighting the accelerating pace at which the federal government is adding to its debt burden.
The Treasury Department also reported a federal budget deficit of more than $432 billion in July, adding to concerns about the government’s fiscal trajectory.
Biggs, the Republican candidate for Arizona Governor, said the latest debt milestone demonstrates what he characterized as decades of congressional unwillingness to impose meaningful limits on federal spending.
“It was fitting that America reached this grim debt milestone while legislators were absent from our nation’s capital,” stated Congressman Biggs.“For decades, Members of Congress have shown catastrophic unseriousness about reining in government spending and leaving a better future for the next generation.”
“Regardless of which party controls Congress, I have sounded the alarm on this fiscal cliff since I entered the U.S. House of Representatives and have introduced legislation to help solve this crisis,” added Biggs. “Our children and grandchildren will be forced to suffer the immense consequences of this inaction and fear of making tough decisions. No one should be surprised when that time arrives for our great nation.”
The $40 trillion milestone represents a doubling of the nation’s debt in less than a decade. Treasury data shows that approximately $32.3 trillion is held by the public, while another $7.8 trillion consists of intergovernmental holdings.
Biggs has repeatedly made federal spending and the national debt a central focus of his legislative work in Congress. His office points to several measures he has introduced aimed at addressing the nation’s long-term fiscal problems.
Among them is a proposed constitutional amendment, H. J. Res. 139, that would require the federal government to operate under a balanced budget by permanently prohibiting deficit spending. The proposal would also establish a two-thirds supermajority requirement for any legislation creating a new federal tax.
Biggs has also introduced, H. Res. 631, a resolution formally recognizing America’s debt as a threat to national security, as well as hundreds of bills aimed at reducing non defense discretionary spending.
The latest debt milestone comes as the federal government continues to run deficits approaching $2 trillion annually. The Congressional Budget Office has projected that federal revenues in FY26 will total roughly $5.6 trillion, compared with approximately $7.4 trillion in federal spending.
The rapid increase in federal debt has also raised concerns over the growing cost of servicing that debt. Interest payments have climbed to more than $1 trillion annually, adding another significant expense to the federal budget.
For Biggs, the latest milestone represents another warning that Congress will eventually have to confront the consequences of continued deficit spending.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Congressman Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ-08) has introduced legislation to designate a section of Interstate 17 as the Mueller-Keating Memorial Highway, honoring the lives and sacrifices of two Arizonans who confronted the threat of ISIS through humanitarian service and military courage.
The Mueller-Keating Memorial Highway Act, introduced on August 13, would designate a stretch of I-17 running from Prescott to Phoenix, connecting the hometowns of Kayla Mueller and Chief Special Warfare Operator Charles H. Keating IV.
Mueller, known as “Arizona’s Angel,” was born and raised in Prescott, Arizona. She traveled to Syria to provide humanitarian assistance and was abducted by terrorists while leaving a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Aleppo in 2013.
Mueller was held captive for approximately 18 months before being killed by ISIS militants, including then-ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Keating, a Phoenix native and U.S. Navy SEAL, was killed in Iraq while serving during Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led effort launched in 2014 to combat ISIS, reclaim territory taken by the terrorist organization, dismantle its network, and protect civilians from its violence.
Keating was the third U.S. service member killed during Operation Inherent Resolve.
🇺🇸NEW🇺🇸
Congressman Hamadeh Honored to Introduce the Mueller-Keating Memorial Highway Act
— Office of Congressman Abe Hamadeh (@RepAbeHamadeh) August 14, 2026
The proposed highway designation seeks to recognize what Hamadeh described as the “distinct, yet complementary” contributions of two Arizona heroes who confronted ISIS in different ways.
“Operation Inherent Resolve demanded both military force and humanitarian resolve, and this designation recognizes the distinct, yet complementary roles our beloved Arizonans played in that effort,” stated Congressman Hamadeh. “We can never forget the victims of ISIS and these two Americans that faced that evil with faith and courage.”
Hamadeh introduced the legislation one day before what would have been Mueller’s 38th birthday.
The congressman has previously highlighted Mueller’s legacy and efforts to bring her home.
During his swearing in ceremony, Hamadeh used the Mueller family’s Bible while taking his oath of office. He was joined at the ceremony by his family and Mueller’s parents, Carl and Marsha.
Hamadeh also traveled from Jerusalem to Damascus in August 2025 to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Syrian Foreign Prime Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani.
During the trip, Hamadeh discussed his continuing efforts to recover Kayla Mueller’s remains and his broader “Peace Through Strength” agenda.
If enacted, the Mueller-Keating Memorial Highway would serve as a permanent tribute along I-17, linking Prescott and Phoenix while honoring two Arizonans whose lives became intertwined with the fight against ISIS and the broader conflict against terrorism.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
