In a development that has drawn sharp criticism from Virginia’s congressional delegation, an illegal immigrant who was committed to a state mental‑health facility after being found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of his landlord managed to leave the institution twice and ultimately escaped to Tajikistan.
Background of the case
Abdulloi Doniyor Toshpulodzoda, a Tajik national, was placed at the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute in Falls Church after a jury concluded he was not criminally responsible for the killing of his landlord. While under court‑ordered commitment, he was escorted to the Tajik embassy in Washington’s Foggy Bottom neighborhood to obtain a passport, and later to an apartment in Alexandria where he purchased a ticket to Dushanbe.
Lawmakers call for investigation
Rep. Donald Beyer (D‑VA), whose district includes Alexandria, Arlington and parts of Fairfax County, told Fox News Digital that the incident points to a “failure in the system” and that federal authorities should investigate. Beyer said he was unsure whether the failure lay in the decision to commit Toshpulodzoda to a mental‑health facility or in the facility’s security protocols, but he emphasized that “we don’t want bad guys on the loose.”
He also rejected claims that Fairfax County is a “sanctuary” jurisdiction for illegal immigrants and defended the county’s Commonwealth’s Attorney, Steve Descano, for initially committing Toshpulodzoda to the psychiatric hospital rather than pursuing immediate deportation. “Deportation doesn’t seem sufficient punishment for someone who committed a major felony,” Beyer said.
Other Democratic voices weigh in
Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, who represents neighboring Loudoun and Fauquier counties, echoed the call for accountability, noting that U.S. law covers murder and violent crime regardless of immigration status. He stressed a case‑by‑case approach, saying not every illegal immigrant who commits a minor offense should be automatically deported, but violent crimes must be prosecuted and, when appropriate, lead to removal proceedings.
Subramanyam also called for oversight of ICE officers, referencing the 2024 killing of anti‑ICE activist Renee Good in Minnesota. He argued that both suspects who break the law and agents who overstep their authority should be held to account.
Official response
Laura Birnbaum, a spokesperson for Commonwealth’s Attorney Descano, said the office did not oppose Toshpulodzoda’s escorted embassy visit in 2024 and has repeatedly argued in court against his outright release. The office maintains that the patient’s movements were court‑ordered and supervised.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Tajik embassy for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Implications for Virginia’s mental‑health and immigration policies
The incident has reignited debate over how Virginia balances public safety, mental‑health treatment, and immigration enforcement. Lawmakers and advocacy groups are likely to scrutinize the protocols that allowed a patient under a not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity ruling to travel abroad, especially given the potential risk to the community.
State officials have not yet announced any concrete changes to security procedures at the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute, but the episode may prompt legislative hearings or policy reviews aimed at tightening supervision of high‑risk patients and clarifying the role of immigration status in decisions about commitment versus deportation.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
