Fairfax County Police will not be voluntary cooperating with U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in enforcing civil matters, the police department announced Friday.
Fairfax Police General Order 604 on Immigration Status states that Fairfax County police will not facilitate the deportation of County residents who may be in the country illegally.
The order prescribes that county police will only assist federal officials in criminal investigations and will focus on the safety of all residents.The order states: “This commitment is designed to strengthen the trust provided from our community and increase the effectiveness of community policing. In keeping with the principles outlined through ONE Fairfax, members of the Department will provide equal services to all community members regardless of known or perceived race, sex, ethnicity, religious preferences, sexual orientation, immigration status, citizenship or national origin, except where otherwise required by state or federal law.”
There are currently 12,000 Fairfax County residents pending deportation proceedings, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) People Power Fairfax.
“Because trust is always earned, we look forward to continue working with Chairman McKay and the Fairfax Board of Supervisors to codify and expand on the police protection to ensure that all agencies in the County are proactively building trust with the immigrant community and the broader community especially given that black and brown communities trust is something that the police department will continue to have to earn by truly serving our communities,” said CASA Virginia Director Luis Aguilar in a join CASA Virginia and ACLU People Power Fairfax press release.
