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Two men are in federal custody and law enforcement officials are searching Lunenburg, Charlotte and the surrounding area for two more that escaped the ICE detention center in Farmville Sunday afternoon. 

Around 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 3, Farmville Police announced that 27-year-old Jose Lovo-Bautista had been identified and detained by ICE officials. He is now back in custody. Early Tuesday, it was confirmed by ICE that 22-year-old Byron Toledo-Henriquez and 25-year-old Jose Rodriguez-Rosales have also been captured. 

That leaves just 22-year-old Wilmer Isaola-Medina still on the run. According to Farmville Police, he is not believed to still be in this area. The men were last seen wearing bright yellow clothing when they escaped the facility. According to federal officials, the three that have been captured were still wearing that bright yellow clothing, making it easier to identify them. All agencies involved state that these are non-violent offenders and the final fugitive is not a threat to the public. 

ICE officials said Monday that the incident took place between 2:15 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. Sunday. However Farmville Police say they weren’t told of the escape until 8:35 p.m. Sunday, when the department received a notification from ICA Farmville. The Farmville ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention center is managed by Immigration Centers of America (ICA).

What do we know about the facility? 

One of the questions that remains unanswered is how one person, let alone four, were able to escape from an ICE detention facility like this. The Dispatch has reached out to federal officials and that is something we have not yet been able to get any type of answer on. 

Another question for those unfamiliar with the facility is where is it and who operates it. This is a privately owned detention center called ICA or Immigration Centers of America, located at 508 Waterworks Road. Abyon LLC operates the facility. The group looks for a local government to partner with. Originally, that partner was the Town of Farmville, but the town council withdrew from the agreement last year. In its place, Prince Edward County supervisors entered into a contract with the Department of Homeland Security, as well as a subcontract with Abyon LLC.

Why does ICA Farmville and similar operations look for a local government to partner with? 

To answer that, we turn to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). It provides auditing and investigative services for Congress. In a January 2021 report, the GAO stated that by using towns as a “middleman”, agencies like ICE bypass some requirements.

“The agency is typically able to enter into (agreements) more quickly than contracts because (agreements) include fewer requirements and less documentation than contracts,” the GAO report said. “When awarding an IGSA, ICE is not required to evaluate the past performance of detention facility operators. Under (contracts), however, ICE requires that prospective contractors submit information on their performance in recent contracts.”

Let’s back up and spotlight those last two sentences. Under a “middleman” agreement like ICA had with Farmville, federal immigration officials aren’t required to see how the facility has operated in the past. Under a standard contract, past performance is considered before the deal is signed. That’s not the case here, as past performance is not examined. 

ICE officials in charge

As Farmville Police officials point out, this isn’t a simple case where they or any other local law enforcement agency is leading the investigation. Since these are federal fugitives, Farmville officers can assist on the case, they can report seeing any of the men and they can help with any capture, but federal officials have to make decisions.  

“Even though this is a federal investigation and is not being conducted by our department, we have a duty to keep our citizens informed for their safety,” Farmville Police Chief Andy Ellington stated. “While these individuals are deemed non-violent and there is no perceived threat to our community, we do ask our citizens to use caution if they encounter these individuals as a matter of personal safety and contact Immigration and Customs Enforcement as soon as possible to bring these individuals back into custody.”

In addition, Ellington said the police will continue increased patrols and engage in surveillance to locate the escapees. Other law enforcement agencies are also helping in this endeavor, including the Prince Edward County Sheriff’s Office. Police officials ask if you see anyone dressed like the description above or if you saw something out of the ordinary, call the Farmville Police Department at 434-392-3332 or 911 immediately. You can also call ICE at 1-866-347-2423 (1-866-DHS-2ICE).