On Thursday, we brought you an infuriating story out of Virginia, where the iconic Iwo Jima statue at U.S. Marine Corps Base Quantico had been vandalized.
27-year-old Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano was arrested at the scene of the crime after allegedly using a sledgehammer to behead one of the soldiers on the statue.
If you missed it, here’s our original report:
Now, more details have been revealed about the suspect.
It turns out that Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano is an illegal immigrant.
He originally arrived in the United States illegally in 1999, but became one of the “dreamers” under Obama’s DACA program.
His DACA status had just expired when he decided to commit the atrocious act of vandalism
Mario Nawfal on X broke down the details:
Police say a man whose DACA protection had just expired took a sledgehammer to Quantico’s Iwo Jima statue and decapitated one of the Marines
Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano reportedly came into the US illegally back in 1999, which means he’s spent nearly his whole life in…
pic.twitter.com/lZjbkCz3n3
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal)
October 24, 2026
Police say a man whose DACA protection had just expired took a sledgehammer to Quantico’s Iwo Jima statue and decapitated one of the Marines
Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano reportedly came into the US illegally back in 1999, which means he’s spent nearly his whole life in this country, and got DACA in 2014 before it lapsed in August.
Officers caught him at night swinging at a limestone model of the Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima, leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.
Police haven’t given a motive… but after nearly 27 years here, taking a sledgehammer to the men who raised the flag on Iwo Jima is not what assimilation looks like.
This isn’t Maldonado Soriano’s first run in with the law, either.
A few years ago, he was arrested on trespassing charges.
A
DHS press release has more:
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after an illegal alien was arrested for attacking the Iwo Jima Memorial in Quantico, Virginia, decapitating one of the statues with a sledgehammer.
According to local reporting, the barbaric act of vandalism was carried out in the evening on October 21. A man wielding a sledgehammer attacked the Iwo Jima Memorial outside Marine Corps Base Quantico, and was still “actively damaging” the statue when Prince William County police arrived to arrest him.
The suspect is Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano, an illegal alien from Mexico. He has been charged with felony destruction of property and trespassing with intent to damage property. His criminal history includes an arrest in Stafford County for trespassing in 2022.
“This hateful illegal alien attacked a memorial to our brave Marines, decapitating one of the statues with a sledgehammer,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “He had been granted DACA by the Obama Administration. Criminals like this who clearly hate America have no business being in our country. We must never allow the history of our great nation to be torn down by illegal aliens who have zero respect for our country and our values. This criminal will soon face justice.”
Soriano illegally entered the United States at an unknown date and location in 1999. He was granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in October 2014 by the Obama Administration, which was renewed by the Biden Administration. His DACA has since expired.
Although Maldonado Soriano has been confirmed as an illegal alien, the media is back at its old tricks…
Outlets are largely referring to him as a “Virginia man.”
Benny Johnson noted:
WaPo: A ‘Virginia Man’ vandalized the Quantico Iwo Jima Marines statue.
Reality: It was an illegal alien.
Per
@BillMelugin_: Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano illegally entered the U.S. in 1999, was granted DACA by Obama in 2014, which was extended by the Biden admin in 2024.
pic.twitter.com/G5htoydsTl
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson)
October 23, 2026
Decapitating a soldier on a statue built to honor the sacrifices made by U.S. Marines doesn’t sound much like behavior from a “Virginia man,” don’t you think?
Deport this America-hating piece of garbage!
Take a look at some of these replies from patriots on X:
@bennyjohnson @BillMelugin_ A real Virginian alright….probably had forefathers at Jamestown
— Jimbobaggins (@moghann313)
October 23, 2026
@bennyjohnson @BillMelugin_ They know exactly who he is. Leaving it out of the headline is a choice. That’s why people stopped trusting them.
— Justin M. Maderia (@justinmaderia)
October 23, 2026
@MarioNawfal those marines bled for this country. throw the book at him
— Leo (@Leo2534870709)
October 24, 2026
Your thoughts?
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[ H/T WLT Report ]
Police say a man whose DACA protection had just expired took a sledgehammer to Quantico’s Iwo Jima statue and decapitated one of the Marines
