Vandal Who Beheaded Iwo Jima Monument Identified as Migrant Admitted Under Obama, Extended Under Biden
Authorities have identified the suspect who decapitated a figure on the Iwo Jima monument at Quantico Marine Corps Base as Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano, a Mexican national who entered the U.S. illegally as a child.
The individual accused of beheading a figure from the Iwo Jima monument at Marine Corps Base Quantico has been identified as Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano, a Mexican national who entered the United States illegally as a child in 1999. According to an administration official and a second source familiar with his legal status, Soriano was granted status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in 2014 during the Obama administration. His DACA status was later extended in 2024 under President Biden, but was reportedly revoked during former President Trump’s term.
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers stated that Soriano "disrespected our brave service members and defaced a beautiful monument that honored their sacrifice." Rogers added, "President Trump has secured our border and is deporting illegal criminals who hate our country and our values. The socialist Democrats want to go back to open borders and flood our communities with dangerous criminal illegal aliens."
Soriano was charged with felony destruction of property and trespassing with intent to damage property following the incident, which occurred on Tuesday. The sledgehammer attack resulted in the decapitation of one of the six servicemen depicted raising the flag and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage, according to police. The monument at Quantico, located approximately 36 miles south of Washington D.C., was sculpted by Felix de Weldon in 1954 and honors Marines who have died in service to the country since 1775.
Soriano has been held without bond at the Prince William County Adult Detention Center since his detention on Oct. 22.