David Pérez-Teofani, an undocumented Mexican immigrant, was arrested on August 20, 2025, near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., after attempting to flee from federal agents. The arrest was captured in a viral video and took place shortly after President Trump declared a public emergency due to rising crime in the capital, which resulted in a massive deployment of federal agents and the National Guard throughout the city.
Pérez-Teofani had previously been charged in January 2024 in Fairfax County, Virginia, with aggravated sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl, among other related charges. However, the charges were dismissed when the victim and her mother stopped cooperating with authorities. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Pérez-Teofani had entered the United States illegally on three occasions and defied a final deportation order, despite having voluntarily returned to Mexico twice before.
The case has drawn criticism toward local prosecutors for their handling of serious accusations involving illegal immigrants. The Fairfax County prosecutor’s office emphasized the difficulty of prosecuting such cases without the cooperation of the victim, noting that the charges could be reinstated if the victim decides to proceed in the future.
This arrest highlights the complexity of addressing crimes committed by illegal immigrants and the importance of victim cooperation in the judicial process.
