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HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) -- The recent detainment of Cesar Lara Rios, who is accused of living illegally in Harrisonburg, sparked reaction from some in the community, begging for him not to be deported back to Mexico.

His case highlights an increase in the number of illegal immigrant detainments in the United States.

According to the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the amount of suspected illegal immigrant arrests has gone up 37.6 percent compared to this time last year.

On Monday, a group in Harrisonburg wanted answers from a local ICE officer about why their friend and loved one was arrested at his routine check-in last week.

The acting director of ICE offered some answers Wednesday, saying the numbers started climbing after President Trump signed the executive order.

"These stats reflect President Trump's commitment to enforce our immigration laws fairly and across the board," said acting ICE director Tom Homan.

While he believes these orders will help to take some with criminal backgrounds off our streets, even those with a clean records are not protected.

"Those who enter the country illegally [they] violate the law. That is a criminal act," said Homan. When we do encounter others who in the country unlawfully, we will execute our sworn duty and enforce the law."

Homan said this explains the rising number of non-criminal arrests in recent months.

Now, the fate of Lara-Rios is in the hands of the federal government.

"When a federal judge makes a decision and issues an order. That order needs to mean something. Our job at ICE is to execute those federal orders,"

Homan went on to say every suspected illegal immigrant that is arrested does receive the right of due process. Every case is heard by a federal judge before any action is taken.

WHSV reached out to Virginia Organizing about these increases in arrests. The group organized Monday's rally. We have not heard back from them.

For more information about Lara-Rio's case and the growing number of illegal immigrant arrests, see our related links section.

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement explains the increase in illegal immigrant arrests in recent months - WHSV