The U.S. Department of Education is investigating a school in Fairfax County, Virginia after an illegal immigrant student allegedly groped multiple girls at the school.
The department said on Monday it’s opening an investigation into Fairfax County Public Schools after 12 girls came forward with accusations against 18-year-old Israel Flores Ortiz, who’s originally from El Salvador.
“ED is opening yet another investigation in Fairfax County following reports from 12 high school girls who have credibly accused one male student – an illegal immigrant – of sexual assault,” the department said on X.
ED is opening yet another investigation in Fairfax County following reports from 12 high school girls who have credibly accused one male student – an illegal immigrant – of sexual assault. This is the latest in a long list of investigations into Northern VA school divisions:…
— U.S. Department of Education (@usedgov) March 30, 2026
According to ABC 7News, Flores Ortiz illegally entered the U.S. in 2024, was detained, but later released. DOE’s Office of Civil Rights Title IX investigation is looking into whether the district discriminated based on sex by not immediately responding to the accusations that Flores Ortiz groped multiple female students at Fairfax High School.
The district confirmed in a statement to 7News it received the official complaint on Monday and has hired an outside law firm.
“We are prepared to fully cooperate with the U.S. Department of Education’s inquiry,” the statement to 7News said. “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners and are continuing to work closely with them as their investigation into this matter moves forward. To maintain the integrity of the ongoing investigation, we cannot share additional details at this point.”
Flores Ortiz was arrested on March 7 and faces 13 counts of assault, according to 7News. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has also issued a detainer request for Flores Ortiz.
In a statement to 7News, an ICE spokesperson called on the county to honor their request.
“Unfortunately, sanctuary politicians like Gov. [Abigail] Spanberger are outlawing cooperation with ICE and choosing to RELEASE criminal illegal aliens from their jails back onto their communities to create more American victims,” the ICE spokesperson told the news station. “We are calling on Fairfax County to honor our detainer to ensure this violent criminal is removed from our country so he can never claim another victim again.”
DOE added that the case is “the latest in a long list of investigations.”
“Virginia’s experiment with radical gender ideology, race-based admissions systems, far-Left indoctrination, and unlawful discrimination has inflicted immeasurable harm on our students. It must stop,” DOE added.
