Vandalism at the Marine Corps Base
Located just outside Marine Corps Base Quantico is a limestone replica of the iconic Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.
This nine-foot sculpture, like its heavier counterpart in Arlington, shows six valiant Marines hoisting an American flag during the fierce battles of Iwo Jima in World War II.
Sadly, on Wednesday, this tribute to American bravery was vandalized. The individual arrested for allegedly beheading one of the figures and damaging the statue is reportedly an illegal alien.
As per the Prince William Police Department, officers responded around 10:13 p.m. on Wednesday, where they found Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano allegedly “actively damaging the statue with a sledgehammer.”
In addition to the decapitation of one soldier, Soriano is suspected of causing damage that could amount to “hundreds of thousands of dollars,” according to police reports.
He has been charged with felony destruction of property, trespassing with an intent to damage, and also for injury to a monument, and he’s currently being held without bond.
Authorities have verified that Soriano is indeed an illegal immigrant, a former DACA recipient whose status expired this year. He entered the U.S. without authorization in 1999, was granted DACA under the Obama administration in 2014, had his status extended by Biden in 2024, but now finds himself without legal protection.
Details from federal sources indicate that Soriano’s legal circumstances have shifted, but his attorney has not yet commented on the situation.
The Department of Homeland Security also hasn’t responded to inquiries. However, they did share a message accompanying an image of the Iwo Jima memorial, stating, “This we will defend.”
According to White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers, “This criminal illegal alien’s dream is over: Maldonado Soriano disrespected our brave service members and defaced a beautiful monument that honored their sacrifice.” She continued, emphasizing President Trump’s commitment to border security and criticizing the Democrats’ stance on immigration policy.
The Marine Corps Public Affairs stated that they are aware of the incident and are collaborating with local law enforcement on an ongoing investigation. Given the active nature of the case, no further information is available at this time.
