Arlington Grocery Store Employee Pleads Guilty To Illegal Reentry Into U.S.

Dionel Florian-Garcia, a native of Guatemala, was arrested by ICE while arriving for work at an Arlington grocery store.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An Arlington grocery store employee who was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in January as he arrived for work pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to being in the U.S. illegally. Dionel Florian-Garcia, a native and citizen of Guatemala, was indicted on charges of illegal reentry subsequent to a felony conviction after being removed from the U.S. on two separate occasions in 2010 and 2012.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenges around immigration enforcement and the complex legal issues surrounding undocumented immigrants with criminal histories who attempt to reenter the U.S. after being deported. It also raises questions about the role of local law enforcement in cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

The details

Florian-Garcia pleaded guilty after being indicted on charges of illegal reentry following a felony conviction. In 2012, he was convicted in Maryland of first-degree assault for stabbing his roommate, for which he served six months in jail before being deported. ICE became aware he had reentered the country last September when he was arrested in Arlington County for driving while intoxicated. On January 14, 2026, ICE officers arrested Florian-Garcia as he arrived for work at the Arlington grocery store where he had been employed for 12 years.

  • On July 21, 2010, Florian-Garcia was removed from the U.S.
  • On July 6, 2012, Florian-Garcia was removed from the U.S. a second time.
  • On April 11, 2012, Florian-Garcia was convicted in Maryland of first-degree assault.
  • On September 12, 2025, Florian-Garcia was arrested in Arlington County for driving while intoxicated.
  • On January 14, 2026, ICE officers arrested Florian-Garcia as he arrived for work at the Arlington grocery store.

The players

Dionel Florian-Garcia

A native and citizen of Guatemala who was arrested by ICE while arriving for work at an Arlington grocery store and pleaded guilty to charges of illegal reentry into the U.S. following a felony conviction.

Nathaniel Wenstrup

The assistant federal public defender representing Florian-Garcia.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Mr. Florian-Garcia's criminal history includes 2012 convictions for driving without a license and felony assault, for which he was sentenced to six months in jail. Both convictions are sufficiently old that they would not be counted if the offense conduct was determined – per U.S. Probation policy – by when Mr. Florian-Garcia was found in the United States in 2025.”

— Nathaniel Wenstrup, Assistant Federal Public Defender (Court documents)

What’s next

A sentencing hearing for Florian-Garcia is scheduled for 9 a.m. on May 12 in the federal courthouse in Alexandria.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement, with undocumented immigrants with criminal histories facing complex legal battles over their status and potential deportation. It also raises questions about the role of local law enforcement in cooperating with federal immigration authorities.