House asks Fairfax County officials to testify on sanctuary status
The House Judiciary Committee has called Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid and Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano to testify and defend their sanctuary policies at a hearing next month.
The hearing comes after the slaying of Stephanie Minter and the charging of an illegal immigrant, Abdul Jalloh.
Mr. Jalloh had more than 100 run-ins with county police and more than 30 arrests, leading Fairfax County’s critics to wonder why he was roaming free on the streets.
Mr. Descano’s office had granted Mr. Jalloh leniency in prosecution decisions, despite county police pleading for him to remain behind bars.
Mr. Jalloh is the latest in a string of cases in the county involving high-profile crimes, illegal immigrants and releases.
In December Mr. Descano dropped weapons and assault charges against a man linked to the MS-13 gang, freeing him. Authorities said a day later he killed a man inside a home in Reston.
The Homeland Security Department has regularly decried Fairfax County’s reluctance to turn over deportation targets from its jail.
The House Judiciary Committee’s invitation to the two officials said the hearing will “examine how state and local policies that prohibit cooperation with federal immigration authorities hurt public safety.”
The Center for Immigration Studies, using ICE data, said the county jail ranked third in the nation in terms of declining to cooperate on detainer requests.
The Justice Department does not have Fairfax County on its list of sanctuary jurisdictions.
County officials insist they are in compliance with the strictures of federal immigration law, though the county’s “Trust Policy” blocks county authorities from offering cooperation.
