Arlington (7News) — Arlington’s local officials have come under scrutiny from the U.S. House Judiciary Committee regarding their policies on immigration.
The committee has informed Arlington’s U.S. Attorney, Sheriff, and Police Chief about their plans to investigate so-called sanctuary policies for undocumented immigrants.
On May 14, Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid and Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano will testify before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, facing tough questions about their sanctuary policies that pertain to illegal immigrants.
Now, officials in Arlington may find themselves in a similar hot seat.
House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan has reached out to Arlington Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Deghani Tafti, Sheriff Jose Quiroz, and Police Chief Charles Penn, emphasizing that their “pro-crime, pro-illegal immigrant policies” allow undocumented criminals to act with impunity, endangering local communities.
Rep. Jordan expressed his concerns to 7 News reporter Nick Minnock, stating that this trend is pervasive across the country. He highlighted instances where undocumented immigrants, previously arrested in sanctuary jurisdictions, are released only to reoffend and harm American citizens. He pointed out that nearly a third of the U.S. population resides in sanctuary areas where local law enforcement is instructed to limit cooperation with federal agencies like ICE.
Jordan is particularly critical of Arlington’s Sheriff for failing to respect the needs of ICE regarding immigration detainees and for not securing warrants for violent offenders among the undocumented. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the local police’s non-cooperation with ICE, even in cases involving known gang members and potential terrorists.
The Arlington Police Department has stated that its policies are in compliance with directives issued by the Arlington County Commission.
Rep. Jordan condemned this policy, suggesting that it could potentially protect dangerous individuals, saying, “It could be a known terrorist, it could be a known gang member.” He emphasized the risks posed to community safety by these practices.
In response to the inquiry, Arlington County Commission Chairman Matt De Ferranti confirmed that the commission is aware of Rep. Jordan’s letter and that ongoing reviews are in place. He underscored the county’s commitment to following all applicable state and federal laws, reiterating that immigration enforcement is fundamentally a federal responsibility.
Rep. Jordan expressed concern that Arlington’s federal prosecutor, akin to their counterpart in Fairfax County, appears to be lenient towards undocumented immigrant defendants facing criminal charges. He specifically referenced the case of Luzbin Olvando García Moran, who remained uncharged for multiple offenses, including assault and public drunkenness, for an extended period.
He noted that when García Moran was eventually charged with an offense involving a law enforcement officer’s stun gun, he received a lenient plea deal that allowed him to return to the streets shortly after his felony conviction.
Just days later, García Moran was arrested again for an alleged attempted sexual assault on a woman waiting for a rideshare near a Whole Foods store on Wilson Boulevard.
7News has reached out to Deghani Tafti’s office for a comment on the situation.
