Parents in Fairfax County are expressing alarm after 19-year-old Israel Flores Ortiz, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, was arrested and charged with nine counts of assault and battery for allegedly groping students in high school hallways. A parent with two daughters at the school called the incidents "terrifying" and criticized policies that allow some students to remain in public education programs through age 22. School officials say a resource officer promptly investigated, and Fairfax County Public Schools emphasized that student safety is a top priority while citing privacy laws.
Virginia Parents Outraged After 19-Year-Old Arrested In Alleged High School Groping Incidents
Mom of Virginia high schoolers where illegal alien allegedly groped girls outraged: 'terrifying as a parent'
Parents in Fairfax County, Virginia, are alarmed after a 19-year-old undocumented immigrant was arrested and charged in connection with a series of alleged groping incidents at a local high school.
What Happened
Authorities arrested Israel Flores Ortiz, a 19-year-old from El Salvador who reportedly crossed into the United States in 2024. Prosecutors have charged Flores Ortiz with nine counts of assault and battery related to alleged incidents that took place in school hallways while students were changing classes. School officials and parents say roughly a dozen students have been identified as victims or potential victims.
A mugshot of Israel Flores Ortiz, accused of groping nine girls at Fairfax County High School, taken in March 2026.(Fox News)
Parent Reaction
Stacy Langton, a mother of two students at the school, described the situation as "terrifying as a parent," saying she expects children to be safe while at school. Langton said her older daughter and other students were already discussing the incidents when she asked, and her ninth-grade daughter confirmed she had not been touched but knew peers who were affected.
"This is a public safety issue," Langton said. "Every single parent's daughters are at risk because of this policy."
Policy Concerns And Legal Context
Langton criticized a Virginia policy that allows students classified as "English Learners" to remain in public education programs through age 22. She and other parents have raised questions about whether that policy played a role in this case. Legal access to public education for undocumented students stems from the U.S. Supreme Court's 1982 decision in Plyler v. Doe, which held that states may not deny access to public schools on the basis of immigration status under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, along with other federal law enforcement agencies, attend a pre-enforcement meeting in Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025.
School And Law Enforcement Response
Langton praised the school's response after the incidents were reported, saying the school resource officer promptly launched an investigation that eventually led to charges. Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) declined to comment on case specifics, citing federal and state privacy laws, but issued a statement emphasizing that it prioritizes student and staff safety and investigates reports when someone says they do not feel safe.
"We are grateful to our law enforcement partners who continue to work swiftly and thoroughly when there are safety concerns in our schools," the district said.
A Fairfax County school bus sits in a depot in Lorton, Virginia, July 22, 2020.
Background
Langton previously gained local attention in 2021 for protesting sexually explicit books in county schools. The current allegations have prompted parents across the political spectrum to voice concern, according to Langton, who said the reaction has included messages from parents she described as politically liberal as well as conservative.
Investigations are ongoing, and Flores Ortiz faces multiple criminal counts. Authorities and the school district have not released additional details while the matter proceeds through the legal process.
Help us improve.
