An illegal alien from Mexico with a criminal history now faces federal charges for allegedly vandalizing the Iwo Jima memorial at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano, 27, has been accused of using a sledgehammer to desecrate the memorial on Oct. 21.
“The suspect allegedly decapitated one of the bodies from the memorial and continued to vandalize the memorial when Prince William County police arrived at the scene,” ICE wrote in an Oct. 28 X post.
ICE issued a detainer against Maldonado Soriano and confirmed he was brought to the United States illegally in 1999.
He was previously arrested for trespassing in Stafford County in 2022.
“This hateful illegal alien attacked a memorial to our brave Marines, decapitating one of the statues with a sledgehammer,” Homeland Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement.
“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,” Mullin added.
The suspect was granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status in October 2014 by the Obama administration, which was renewed by the Biden administration. His DACA status has since expired, and a renewal request was denied on Oct. 23, 2026, according to federal authorities.
Miguel Alonso Soriano. ICE
The limestone sculpture was created by renowned artist Felix de Weldon and captures one of the most iconic moments in American military history, which is the raising of the American flag on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in February 1945.
The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation has launched a fundraising campaign to help restore the historic memorial.
“This monument represents generations of courage, sacrifice, and Marine Corps heritage,” the foundation wrote in a Facebook post.
According to the organization, the damage to the monument is “extensive,” and portions of the sculpture have “sustained significant damage.”
Maldonado Soriano remains in state custody, according to prosecutors. After he is transferred to federal custody, he faces charges of willfully injuring or committing a depredation against property of the United States, and willfully injuring or destroying a monument on public property commemorating the service of persons in the armed forces.
It’s unclear whether he has retained legal representation.
“Make no mistake: anyone who vandalizes monuments honoring American heroes WILL face justice,” ICE said.
