Latest news with #TrustPolicy
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arlington, Virginia, county board blocks police coordination with ICE in more cases
The County Board of Arlington, Virginia, voted this week to further restrict police cooperation with ICE in a move the state's attorney general said only benefits "illegal immigrants that have committed some of the most heinous acts, whether it's human trafficking or even acts of terrorism." Sections of the Arlington County Trust Policy were removed to eliminate "instances in which ACPD can initiate contact with ICE regarding immigration enforcement," the county said on its website. "Banning local police from alerting ICE, from terrorists, from MS-13 gang members, from human traffickers, that is not compassion. That's actually negligence," Arlington Attorney General Jason Miyares told Fox News after the vote. "I want to be clear, this present policy does absolutely nothing to make Arlington safe. It makes it less safe. The only people that benefit from this are illegal immigrants that have committed some of the most heinous acts, whether it's human trafficking or even acts of terrorism. It does not protect the community, does not protect Arlington, does not protect Virginians." Gov. Youngkin Proposes Withholding State Funding From Virginia's 'Sanctuary Cities' A copy of the old Trust Policy, which the county said was first adopted in July 2022 to ensure residents can interact with the local government without fear of action by federal immigration authorities, outlined the instances in which the Arlington County Police Department could reach out to ICE. Read On The Fox News App It said ACPD could contact federal immigration authorities if someone was an "undocumented immigrant" who "has been identified as a gang member and is wanted or arrested for a violent felony or a criminal street gang offense," or if they were "arrested for a terrorism or human trafficking offense," according to a copy of the policy obtained by WJLA. Virginia Gov Promises 'Full Cooperation' With Ice To Deport Illegal Immigrants However, the updated policy no longer includes that language. "To be clear, breaking the law is still breaking the law. This decision does not change that, and if a crime is committed, law enforcement will respond," Takis Karantonis, the chair of the Arlington County Board, said in a statement. "The decision to remove Section 7 and related language comes in the wake of the federal administration's ongoing erosion of the constitutional right to due process, which every person has regardless of their status," he added. "The rhetoric and actions of this administration have led to tremendous stress and fear in our community, and we want to make sure all residents feel safe in engaging with local government, particularly with local law enforcement." Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has come out against the vote, writing on X, "The Arlington County Board's latest action to prohibit Arlington Police from any cooperation with ICE, even regarding violent MS-13 gang members who are illegally here, is dereliction of duty and a betrayal of the oath they swore to protect their constituents. "At what point did protecting violent illegal immigrants become more important than protecting your constituents?" he added. "The Virginia Homeland Security Task Force has been working in Arlington County, catching and arresting violent criminals, including MS-13 gang members. That will continue — unabated — in Arlington and around the Commonwealth." Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy and Homeland Security advisor said, "The Democrat Party is fully radicalized against Americans." When asked by Fox News Digital Friday for a reaction to the vote, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, "These sanctuary politicians are playing Russian roulette with American lives. "While Arlington Country sanctuary politicians work to thwart ICE, DHS will continue arresting criminal illegal aliens and getting them out of our country. Radical sanctuary politicians need to put the safety of the American people first, not criminal illegal aliens. No American wants criminal illegal aliens loose on America's streets and neither should our leaders who represent them," she added. "We find it extremely troubling that Arlington County leaders made the decision to prioritize politics ahead of public safety," ICE acting Director Todd M. Lyons said in a statement to Fox News. "Prohibiting local law enforcement from alerting federal authorities to the presence of an egregious hazard to their community only emboldens criminal offenders while putting people at risk." The agency has made 17 arrests in Arlington County so far this fiscal year, and three of those arrested were confirmed MS-13 gang members. Fox News' Casey Clark contributed to this article source: Arlington, Virginia, county board blocks police coordination with ICE in more cases
Fox News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Arlington, Virginia, county board blocks police coordination with ICE in more cases
The County Board of Arlington, Virginia, voted this week to further restrict police cooperation with ICE in a move the state's attorney general said only benefits "illegal immigrants that have committed some of the most heinous acts, whether it's human trafficking or even acts of terrorism." Sections of the Arlington County Trust Policy were removed to eliminate "instances in which ACPD can initiate contact with ICE regarding immigration enforcement," the county said on its website. "Banning local police from alerting ICE, from terrorists, from MS-13 gang members, from human traffickers, that is not compassion. That's actually negligence," Arlington Attorney General Jason Miyares told Fox News after the vote. "I want to be clear, this present policy does absolutely nothing to make Arlington safe. It makes it less safe. The only people that benefit from this are illegal immigrants that have committed some of the most heinous acts, whether it's human trafficking or even acts of terrorism. It does not protect the community, does not protect Arlington, does not protect Virginians." A copy of the old Trust Policy, which the county said was first adopted in July 2022 to ensure residents can interact with the local government without fear of action by federal immigration authorities, outlined the instances in which the Arlington County Police Department could reach out to ICE. It said ACPD could contact federal immigration authorities if someone was an "undocumented immigrant" who "has been identified as a gang member and is wanted or arrested for a violent felony or a criminal street gang offense," or if they were "arrested for a terrorism or human trafficking offense," according to a copy of the policy obtained by WJLA. However, the updated policy no longer includes that language. "To be clear, breaking the law is still breaking the law. This decision does not change that, and if a crime is committed, law enforcement will respond," Takis Karantonis, the chair of the Arlington County Board, said in a statement. "The decision to remove Section 7 and related language comes in the wake of the federal administration's ongoing erosion of the constitutional right to due process, which every person has regardless of their status," he added. "The rhetoric and actions of this administration have led to tremendous stress and fear in our community, and we want to make sure all residents feel safe in engaging with local government, particularly with local law enforcement." Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has come out against the vote, writing on X, "The Arlington County Board's latest action to prohibit Arlington Police from any cooperation with ICE, even regarding violent MS-13 gang members who are illegally here, is dereliction of duty and a betrayal of the oath they swore to protect their constituents. "At what point did protecting violent illegal immigrants become more important than protecting your constituents?" he added. "The Virginia Homeland Security Task Force has been working in Arlington County, catching and arresting violent criminals, including MS-13 gang members. That will continue — unabated — in Arlington and around the Commonwealth." Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy and Homeland Security advisor said, "The Democrat Party is fully radicalized against Americans." When asked by Fox News Digital Friday for a reaction to the vote, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, "These sanctuary politicians are playing Russian roulette with American lives. "While Arlington Country sanctuary politicians work to thwart ICE, DHS will continue arresting criminal illegal aliens and getting them out of our country. Radical sanctuary politicians need to put the safety of the American people first, not criminal illegal aliens. No American wants criminal illegal aliens loose on America's streets and neither should our leaders who represent them," she added. "We find it extremely troubling that Arlington County leaders made the decision to prioritize politics ahead of public safety," ICE acting Director Todd M. Lyons said in a statement to Fox News. "Prohibiting local law enforcement from alerting federal authorities to the presence of an egregious hazard to their community only emboldens criminal offenders while putting people at risk." The agency has made 17 arrests in Arlington County so far this fiscal year, and three of those arrested were confirmed MS-13 gang members.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Orlando inks ICE agreement. ‘People are terrified,' immigration advocates say
Orlando Police joined a growing list of law enforcement agencies across Florida last month and signed an agreement with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to cooperate with the Trump Administration's deportation policies. Monday, the agreement was blasted by local immigrant advocates as unnecessary and an overstep at a time when immigrants are fearful of deportation — even if they're here legally. The agreement, they argued, also runs counter to the city's Trust Policy, enacted in 2018, which bars city employees and law enforcement from inquiring about the immigration status of a law-abiding person or somebody pulled over for a traffic stop. The city's deal appeared recently on an ICE database, alongside similar deals with 177 other agencies across 22 states. Because the city doesn't operate a jail, it signed a 'Task Force Model' agreement, which grants 'limited immigration authority' to local authorities during their regular duties. It was signed by Chief Eric Smith on March 20, the document reads. 'We're really in a state of shock that the Orlando Police would've taken this step without having a conversation with the community about this,' said Ericka Gomez-Tejeda, a director of community organizing with Hope CommUnity Center. 'The City of Orlando is the home to the largest population of the Haitian community in Central Florida, along with the Venezuelan population, all of whom are about to lose their legal status out of nowhere.' The Trump administration has announced it will revoke the Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans and Haitians, which allows them to live and work legally in the U.S. Mayor Buddy Dyer said he didn't see the ICE cooperation agreement as optional after changes in Florida law earlier this year. He said the city's police wouldn't be conducting raids on behalf of immigration authorities, but could play a supporting role if asked. 'We follow federal and state law,' he said, noting his own disagreement with the legislation. 'We'll still adhere to the Trust Act, which means that at a traffic stop, we're not going to ask for documentation.' Dyer said the city could have its federal and state funding threatened if it didn't sign onto the agreement. Other cities, including Oviedo, Tampa, Tallahassee, and Tavares, have similar agreements with ICE, as does every sheriff's office in the state. Others such as Eatonville, Ocoee, St. Cloud, Winter Garden and Windermere have pending agreements, the database shows. Under such an agreement, trained officers can interrogate anybody 'believed to be an alien,' can arrest without a warrant 'any alien entering or attempting to enter the United States,' and have the power to serve and execute warrants for immigration violations and to issue immigration detainers. Dyer, however, said the city wouldn't be conducting raids of its own, or proactively seeking to detain and deport anyone. The city commissioners who spoke Monday said they opposed the agreement, with some seeking more information about ramifications of backing out of the deal and Commissioner Patty Sheehan suggesting legal action. 'If we can avoid being a part of this particular group, we should,' said Tony Ortiz, the city commissioner who pushed for passage of the Trust Act. The Rev. Sarah Robinson of the Audubon Park Covenant Church called on city officials to revoke the agreement. 'I believe it was entered into unnecessarily, and will bring unnecessary harm,' she said. Sister Ann Kendrick, who founded the Hope CommUnity Center and has worked with immigrants and farmworkers for 50 years, said families are fearful and are keeping kids out of school to avoid immigration authorities. 'The people are suffering. They're terrified,' she said. 'I've never seen such terror. They're good hard working people. They do nothing but contribute to this country.' The immigration law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in February requires county sheriffs and chief corrections officers that run jails to sign the agreement with ICE. Cities, including Orlando, typically don't operate jails. But not signing an agreement with federal immigration enforcement still could lead to city police chiefs or city officials being removed from office, said Cliff Shepard, a city attorney whose clients include Apopka, Maitland and Eatonville. 'Nuance in the this particular law is not recognized by the AG or the Governor,' he said in an email. 'The AG has said he will use all tools at his disposal against those who don't sign, including removal from office by the governor. Having officials vote on an agreement in which a negative vote could result in removal of that official is not really a vote, but a coerced exercise in fealty to the realm.' Already, state Attorney General James Uthmeier has warned one city it would be breaking the law after it initially sought to buck the state's will. The Fort Myers city council last month at first voted not to sign the agreement, called 287(g), which Uthmeier said 'constitutes a serious and direct violation of Florida law.' Uthmeier cited a state law banning cities and counties from having policies that impede a law enforcement agency from 'participating in a federal immigration operation.' 'By failing to approve the Department's 287(g) agreement, Fort Myers is implicitly implementing a sanctuary policy,' Uthmeier wrote, adding that corrective actions include civil penalties and removal from office by the governor. Ultimately, the city backed down and approved the deal at a later meeting. rygillespie@
