ICE Activity In Loudoun County Draws Scrutiny From Board Chair

ASHBURN, VA – Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall said Thursday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents appeared to be operating without proper training and guidelines after a chaotic operational surge in the county on Wednesday.

In a statement posted to Facebook, she said the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office had no prior knowledge of ICE’s “operational surge,” which took place throughout the area, not just in Loudoun County.

Randall says at least seven ICE agents were active in the county, not all wearing the same uniform, with at least one wearing a mask. She also said a high-speed car chase resulted in damage to a Loudoun County resident’s property, but that ICE did not remain on the scene to assess the damage or check for injuries.

ICE made no arrests in the county, she said.

Randall put forth an initiative to the board in June requesting that the Loudoun County attorney investigate whether the county has the legal authority to block ICE activities on county property. She says the board will return to that initiative after its August break.

“Across the nation, there have been numerous deaths of U.S. citizens and residents during ICE operations," Randall wrote. "Although members of Congress have repeatedly requested answers from the Department of Homeland Security regarding deaths during ICE operations, they have not received an adequate response and ICE is not conducting investigations. ICE doesn't appear to be operating with the training and guidelines of other LEOs. Thus, I remain concerned about the safety of Loudoun residents during ICE operations.”

Loudoun Now reported on Wednesday that the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office would continue its cooperation with ICE, in which LCSO can hold inmates with immigration violation warrants for up to 48 hours beyond their release date to give ICE agents time to take them into custody.

The Virginia Community Safety and Trust Act could block much of LCSO's cooperation with ICE, but the sheriff's office is still reviewing the new law, Loudoun Now reports.

Patch has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.