After months of pressure from community organizations like CASA, the American Civil Liberties Union People Power, SEIU, NAKASEC, and others, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office announced on Tuesday an end to the practice of holding people past their release dates at the request of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Sheriff Stacey Kincaid’s office announced she would cancel the agreement with ICE that forces the Sheriff’s office to go along with ICE’s request to detain individuals even if they don’t have a criminal detainer issued by a court. This is a major victory for the immigrant residents of Fairfax County. Last year, nearly 800 people were kept in Fairfax County jails past their release date.
Holding immigrants past their release date for ICE violates their Fourth Amendment right. Make no mistake, this decision is a direct result of pressure from community leaders and organizations, and we are happy that the county has taken a step in the right direction. We are now calling on the Fairfax Board of Supervisors to go further to guarantee the rights of immigrants in Fairfax County.
Please help us continue pressuring other jurisdictions in the region to defend our immigrant communities. Donate today
In Solidarity,
Gustavo Torres
Executive Director, CASA
