Virginia Dems double down on no ICE cooperation after Spanberger rejects ICE detainer

Democrats in the Virginia state legislature took steps to advance laws aimed at restricting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement efforts and cooperation with local police just days after Virginia Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger said a detainer without an ICE warrant would not be enough to turn over a suspected illegal alien killer, with more than 30 criminal charges under his belt, to federal authorities.

Senate and House Democrats who took procedural steps and voted in favor of anti-ICE bills this week include Democrats whose districts are either inside or partially inside Fairfax County, where Stephanie Minter was murdered by Abdul Jalloh, an illegal alien from Sierra Leone, whom police had warned the Democratic Commonwealth’s Attorney for Fairfax County, Steve Descano, should remain behind bars because of his violent past.

However, Jalloh was released back onto the streets and he subsequently murdered Minter. Now Spanberger is forcing ICE to get a warrant to turn him over. Meanwhile, a similar event occurred in Fairfax County several weeks ago, after Descano’s office let out of jail a criminal illegal alien in ICE custody, who then killed a man days later.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger faces criticism for rejecting a warrantless detention order for a criminal and illegal alien murderer, and days later, Virginia Democrats continue to push through anti-ICE cooperation laws.

“The tone deafness is incredible,” Sean Kennedy, president of Virginians for Safe Communities, told Fox News Digital. Rep. Thomas Garrett, R-56, also called out Democrats this week for officials’ failure to heed warnings to keep Jalloh behind bars, noting that he had more than 150 interactions with law enforcement and more than 30 charges under his belt, many of which were later dropped.

Garrett also pointed out that on DA Descano’s website it states “to the extent possible” that he will make charging or plea decisions “that will limit or avoid immigration consequences.”

Yesterday, “18 delegates who represent Fairfax, Arlington and Alexandria voted to make it harder, not easier, to turn over to ICE not illegal immigrants, but illegal violent criminals,” Garrett said in an impassioned speech this week, according to Northern Virginia news station WJLA. “Much gaslighting? They told us we were bad because we didn’t join them in voting that way.”

Many of these bills were released shortly after Governor Spanberger took office in January.

Among a series of bills advanced this week, via a litany of procedural votes, that would restrict ICE’s enforcement operations is HB 1441. HB 1441, introduced shortly after Governor Spanberger took office, would require certain conditions that would make it more difficult for ICE to file adequate detention requests to detain criminal illegal aliens. Other bills advanced this week include proposals banning ICE from making arrests in courthouses or within 40 feet of a place serving as a voting location. Another bill would ban ICE officials from wearing face coverings.

POLICE WARNED PROSECUTORS 3 TIMES ABOUT VIOLENT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT BEFORE HE ALLEGEDLY KILLED VIRGINIA’S MOTHER

Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano is seen. (Sarah Voisin/Getty Images)

“Most of these people hate Steve Descano, but they’re all playing on the same team,” Kennedy said, referring to some Fairfax County Democrats who took steps to advance anti-ICE bills just days after Minter’s killing.

Fox News Digital reached out to several Virginia Democratic lawmakers, both in the House and Senate, who took steps to advance anti-ICE bills this week. Virginia State Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell’s office suggested his bill to require a higher bar for ICE detainees would then prioritize deporting the most violent illegal aliens.

“Our pending legislation attempts to direct ICE toward the President’s campaign promise to focus on capturing and deporting violent undocumented immigrants like Abdul Jalloh who was detained by ICE in 2018 and has been eligible for deportation for 10 years,” Surovell’s office said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Maybe you should ask ICE why they didn’t deport him the first time Trump’s ICE arrested him in 2018 or even issue him a detainer the 8 times he’s been arrested since 2023?”

Abdul Jalloh, a 32-year-old man from Sierra Leone who DHS says entered the United States illegally in 2012, was arrested for allegedly fatally stabbing a 41-year-old woman in Fairfax County and has an extensive criminal history. (Department of Homeland Security/Getty Images)

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But Republican state lawmakers in Virginia have shown they have a different view.

“Just weeks after Governor Spanberger chose to end the Commonwealth’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities, a woman is dead,” Del said. Delores Oates, R-31, on the Virginia House floor this week, according to a recording posted online by a Northern Virginia news station, WJLA. Oates was referring to Spanberger’s executive decision to end 287(g) programs that allowed local police and federal immigration agents to easily cooperate. “It’s not a coincidence, it’s a consequence.”

“I heard my colleagues across the aisle say they don’t want ICE making arrests in public places,” Oates continued. “Well, fine. So let’s act responsibly: let’s work with federal authorities to detain and deport violent criminals while they’re already in custody. It’s safer for our communities. It’s safer for law enforcement. And it’s much more of a responsible approach.”

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