ICE Makes 11 Arrests in Arlington As Part of N. Va. Sweep

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by ARLnow.com March 23, 2011 at 1:21 pm 6,196 102 Comments

A three-day sweep of Northern Virgina by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents resulted in 163 arrests, including 11 in Arlington County.

Of those arrested, 130 were described as aliens with criminal records who were previously convicted of crimes including rape, assault, burglary and narcotics possession. ICE also arrested eight fugitives and three individuals accused of re-entering the United States after a previous deportaiton.

Of the 11 individuals arrested in Arlington, one was a man described as a 39-year-old Ecuadorian national and legal permanent resident of the United States.

“His previous criminal convictions include three counts of contributing to delinquency of minor, assault and battery against a family or household member, grand larceny and receiving stolen property, and statutory rape of a child between 13 and 15 years of age,” authorities said. “He was taken into ICE custody pending a hearing before an immigration judge.”

“We are a nation with a proud history of immigration. If you come here lawfully, work hard, and play by the rules, the United States welcomes you with open arms,” ICE Director John Morton said in a statement today. “For those who come here unlawfully and commit crimes at the expense of their neighbors and their communities, we will not rest until we find you and send you home.”

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell also lauded the raids.

“Once again through our working relationship with ICE, Virginia has had the opportunity to continue to safeguard its communities from convicted criminals,” McDonnell said.

ICE’s Fugitive Operations Teams were assisted by various local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Secret Service, Virginia State Police, Fairfax County Police, and the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.

Arlington County Police spokeswoman Det. Crystal Nosal said the department was notified about the pending arrests, but did not participate.

“[ICE] did not ask for assistance in Arlington County,” Nosal said.

Arlington has been resisting efforts to compel it into participating in certain immigration enforcement efforts. In September the county tried to opt-out of the federal Secure Communities information-sharing initiative. It also gave a human rights award to a group dedicated to opposing the initiative.

Photos courtesy U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

KalashniKEV

YES, WE CAN!!!!
- DouroRouro
  
  …be idiots! For further confirmation, read comments below!
  - KalashniKEV
    
    Lo siento mucho, papi… but American national sovereignty is back in effect! No more “opting out” of the LAW.
    - mehoo
      
      Why do you assume he’s referring to idiotic comments from people on your side of the debate, Kev? Awful sensitive of you.
      
      And you can be anti-illegal immigration and still be an idiot. 😉
      
      (For the record, I applaud these arrests, so hands off me.)
    - DouroRouro
      
      I actually support this type of effort. People who are here illegally and who commit violent or sexual crimes should be deported. my comment above was referring to people, on both sides of this argument, who use occasions like these to make ignorant comments that distort the facts (although i suppose those are debatable, too).
      
      So, it’s me that feels sorry (for your ignorance)…papi.
      - KalashniKEV
        
        I hope that the “enlightened” never become TRULY enlightened. For further edification, read comments below!
      - mehoo
        
        I see a comment below where you accuse people of looking the other way when they see rape and child molestation, and where you advocate putting the homeless on a barge and floating them away. Really classy there. Can you do even better? I know you can.
      - mehoo
        
        Smallpox blankets! Even better!
        
        You could seal up the championship by finding one more person to accuse of aiding child molesters or something. Come on, I know you’ve got it in you. Throw some racism in too.
Steve

Wouldn’t ever illegal alien be cosnidered of having a record, because there mere presence is a crime?

I hope that wasn’t a thought crime on my part. How dare I admit that illegals break laws!
- mehoo
  
  Actually, no, because a record means you’ve actually been convicted of something.
- Andrew
  
  Being in the country illegally is not a violation of U.S. criminal code. It is a violation of civil immigration law and can result in civil penalites, such as deportation.
  
  That being said, if you are caught entering the country illegally, is a violation of Title 8 of U.S. criminal code and is punishable by fine or jail time. It is difficult to prosecute someone here illegally for the criminal offense, unless authorities catch someone in the act of crossing the border and it is easier to just deport them than spend the time and money needed to prove how they crossed the border.
Jim

Shame on Arlington County for not supporting these efforts to improve the safety of our neighborhoods. It is things like this that makes me think we are overdue for some large scale changes in government in Arlington County.
- KalashniKEV
  
  You can expect a statement from Tejada soon explaining how this will make all of their amigos sad, and soon we wont have anyone to drive drunk, rape, rob, or do gardening.
  
  The Arlington County Board is already on the record in support of criminality.
  - DouroRouro
    
    if i recall, you said you’d be willing to do my gardening when they’re all gone – is that still correct?
    - KalashniKEV
      
      Your recollections are incorrect. You’ve obviously spent too much time smoking dope with your amigos. I feel for your loss though- I can only imagine the sadness you will feel at the tall grass and safe streets this summer, as we are forced to recognize the rule of law and live as a civilized people.
      - DouroRouro
        
        No, i guess it’s just that you make so many references to gardening when discussing immigration issues that I thought you’ve been personally affected!
        
        But for the record, here’s where I previously asked whether you would be willing to do so:
        http://www.arlnow.com/2011/02/09/immigrant-advocates-rally-in-arlington/#comments
        
        If you’re interested, the job’s yours for the taking 😉
      - KalashniKEV
        
        At least you recognize that your mind isn’t working right. You’re a sad, sick person with no respect for the laws of society. Keep acting cute about it. I hope you never come to realize the error of you ways by becoming a victim.
      - DouroRouro
        
        Actually, if you look in that same set of comments, you make some pretty scary comments about taking matters into your own hands. THAT is what’s illegal. Disagreeing with current policy on this issue is NOT.
  - mehoo
    
    And if he doesn’t say that, will you apologize for this comment?
    - KalashniKEV
      
      I apologize that his previous support of criminal activity has lead me to believe that he would again go on the record in support of unlawful behavior- and at the expense of his constituents.
      - mehoo
        
        Um, yeah, I don’t think he ever said he supported rape and all that. Dial it back a notch. You’re on the right side, quit trying to ruin it for yourself.
- Terry
  
  Yeah because crime is such a huge problem in Arlington County.
  - Box Alarm
    
    Just for the record… My Wife was savagely attacked, dragged 165 feet and almost raped IN ARLINGTON COUNTY by an ILLEGAL ALIEN. She managed to break free and call the police who handled the case very professionally and the guy got 20 years and will be deported when he gets out. There is crime in your lily white County… Wake up!!
- ARLnow.com
  
  To be clear, Arlington PD says they were not asked to participate in the sweep.
  - KalashniKEV
    
    We never asked the National Police for help fighting Jaysh-al-Mahdi either…
    
    😉
JamesE

statutory rape and he was still here?
CW

Does this article mean that novapj comments are forthcoming?
ClarendonKing aka ClizzleDizzle

ICE, ICE Baby!
- Bringmetheyuppies
  
  Hielo, hielo, Nino.
Overgrown Bush

Too bad it was only 11, because I’m sure there are quite a few more who deserve to be rounded up.
- KalashniKEV
  
  What we need next is a BUM ROUND-UP!!!!
  - mehoo
    
    Where will you put the bums, Kev? Does jail cost more than a shelter?
    - KalashniKEV
      
      Not jail. Certainly not a shelter… I’m thinking perhaps a barge in the middle of the Potomac.
      - mehoo
        
        Exactly, Kev.
        
        So here are the choices:
        
        1. Shelter, which costs money.
        
        2. Jail, which costs alot more money, punishes people for something that’s not really a crime, and crowds already crowded facilities.
        
        3. A barge, which is either a joke designed to avoid the fact that your position on this issue is completely idiotic as I’ve just revealed, or you’re serious and you’re a murdering fascist. I’m not really sure which it is though – you pick.
      - Rebecca
        
        I gotta agree with KEV here… put them in a barge. But make sure they have food and water. Oh and probably a blanket.
      - KalashniKEV
        
        Only if it’s a small pox blanket.
      - Josh S
        
        Becky –
        
        The blanket, food and water, while perhaps assuaging your guilt, hardly changes the proposal from the subhuman absurdity that it is.
      - Overgrown Bush
        
        I say put them in a shelter, but have them perform a service in exchange for the space. Perhaps they can just pick up some garbage to make the community look better rather than sleep on the floor making it look like blight.
      - BoredHouseWife
        
        You know who else rounded up unwanted/illegal people and placed them in confinement….
- LyonSteve
  
  They should have had ICE at the budget “hearing” last night.
So Long Mary and Walter

This Board and Manager misunderstood the nature of the request and decided to opt out.
rick

who do I talk to if I know they missed a couple?
- ClarendonKing aka ClizzleDizzle
  
  ICE Tip Line, 1-866-DHS-2ICE—LESC maintains an around-the-clock toll-free tip line for the public to report suspicious activity to ICE.
  - LyonSteve
    
    and don’t forget, if you “hear something, say something”
    - Josh S
      
      Because being a fascist is FUN!
      - Rebecca
        
        Yeah Josh? Because being anti ILLEGAL immigration makes you partake in fascism? Whatever.
      - rcw
        
        Calling a federal authority on your neighbor because you are suspicious of their immigrations status might not make you a fascist but it sure does make you an asshole.
        
        Please enlighten us as to how you discern whether someone is a legal or an illegal foreign alien. Your special skills will make us all instant millionaires.
        
        I like to keep the discourse civil but you are all insufferable dbags with no sense of perspective. These people where here illegally and criminals? Good see ya later no, argument there. However if you are going to use this to stigmatize every person with a different accent, nationality “way of looking” then you are a know-nothing xenophobe.
      - DouroRouro
        
        This is perhaps the best single comment I have ever read on this blog.
      - KalashniKEV
        
        This is the best single story I’ve ever read on this blog.
        
        (seriously!)
      - cj
        
        +10 despite the imperfections of spelling and grammar that someone is bound to yawp about.
      - rcw
        
        Angry grammar and spell fail!
      - Rebecca
        
        thanks rcw for proving he isn’t a fascist. I win.
      - Maria
        
        In college, my roommate’s boyfriend was illegally in the country – from Canada. Red hair, pasty skin… do you think anyone would have called ICE on him?
      - Too Easy
        
        Wait , it’s OK to call about a Tax sticker but not about someone here without papers. Just charge a new tax for no document please so I can feel good about turning some one in.
- DouroRouro
  
  i’d love to know how you’re so confident they’re illegal.
  - Patrick
    
    We’ll let ICE determine that.
    - DouroRouro
      
      your reading comprehension skills are lacking, patrick. unless “rick” is short for “patrick” – this question isn’t directed towards you. what i’m curious to know is what reason(s) he has to believe they’re illegal.
    - Josh S
      
      Because while government employees who wear ties and work with computers are lameasses and never do anything right but give a guy a gun and a badge and automatically he’s infallible.
    - DouroRouro
      
      also, leading ICE on a wild goose chase is a terrible use of my taxpayer money. unless he has some valid reasons for suspecting they’re criminals (in which case, i’d say, go ahead), how DARE you?
      - KalashniKEV
        
        The Welfare State extending benefits and support to non-citizens is a MUCH larger waste. Also, I’m sure you know this, but when you witness crime you should report it to the authorities. That’s just part of being a good citizen (as is respecting ALL laws whether or not you personally agree with them). In many situations, when not directly witnessed, a LEO can’t intervene until a crime is reported. You strike me as the kind of selfish person who would turn a blind eye though…
      - mehoo
        
        How does one witness someone being an illegal immigrant? Do they have scratches from climbing over fences, or are there backs perpetually wet?
      - KalashniKEV
        
        All you need to have is a reasonable suspicion. When an employer who is suspected of hiring illegals gets reported, he gets a visit from the ICE man. If you notify the IRS, they will be paying him or her a visit as well. That’s why we have Law Enforcement Officers in this country. I’m sure you’ll have something to say about “suspicion” in response to this. I’m also fairly sure you and D.R. would probably watch a child get abused after witnessing all the signs and then say, “they lived next door, but I never witnessed it.”
      - mehoo
        
        “I’m sure you’ll have something to say about “suspicion” in response to this. I’m also fairly sure you and D.R. would probably watch a child get abused after witnessing all the signs and then say, “they lived next door, but I never witnessed it.” ”
        
        Wow, so now you’re calling me an abettor to child molestation by putting words in my mouth like you did with Tejada? Are there no depths you won’t go to demean yourself and everyone around you?
        
        Jackass is about the only word I can get away with calling you here, but there are more.
      - DouroRouro
        
        Personal attacks, great. Ridiculous assumptions about my respect for our country and what it stands for, even better. Oh wait — that’s how all of your responses look like on here with anyone who disagrees with you.
        
        How about you read my response above, where you’ll see that I mention my SUPPORT of this particular effort (and others like it). Except in my case, I’m not entirely ignorant about this issue, and have some sense of HUMANITY (not to worry, I’m sure you don’t know what that is) about otherwise law-abiding folks that are here without a visa.
        
        Not to get too far off the topic at hand, but just the other day I was thinking about that guy who got beat up at the L’Enfant Plaza station a few weeks ago while tons of people stood by and watched. I wondered what could be so wrong with us that nobody did anything to stop it. Something tells me YOU’d be the one filming the fight, all the while pointing and laughing.
      - Josh S
        
        Actually, there are such things as unjust laws. They should be ignored / flaunted / disparaged / condemned.
      - Umm
        
        The problem with that logic, Josh S, is that who gets to determine which laws are “unjust” and thus should be “ignored / flaunted / disparaged / condemned?” Clearly, you trust you own judgement as infallible (unlike the “guys with guns and badges”)… however, I suspect you’ll find that any law will have people who find it “unjust” (and thus worthy of your advice).. Perhaps I find the laws criminalizing homicide to be unjust, because maybe I think I should be able to kill another human being without government intervention. Absurd? Sure.. but you’ve decided that our imperfect system of laws being established by elected representatives of the populace, evaluated for constitutionality by an independent judiciary, and enforced by the executive can, at the whim of an individual, be deemed personally invalid. Your argument is a great law school debate for the 101 crowd, but rather juvenile and unworkable in reality. So continue to “fight the power”, and anyone who perhaps selflessly dedicates themselves to trying to serve their community (including you) by doing what they hope is the right thing, while recognizing the inherent flaws and inevitable failures of anything involving humans.
      - Joe M.
        
        @Umm
        
        That is the problem with unjust and unenforced laws. Who gets to determine which laws are important and which laws aren’t? In practice, the government does through it’s enforcement policies. Laws on the books should be enforced and until they are they will breed contempt and disrespect for the law. How can you expect me to follow speeding laws when I and every other car on I-66 eastbound, at 70mph, speed past cops in the median running radar, everyday and they never stop any of us. It is my opinion that the same logic applies to immigration. The Government (Federal, State, and otherwise) basically condone and possibly even encourage illegal immigration into America, through inaction in preventing border crossings, inaction in deportation, and through actions such as the MD Senate voting to give aliens from MD in-state tuition.
        
        I support the ICE actions above, but I absolutely part ways from the folks who vilify all illegal aliens as these horrible criminals.
        
        What rational person would, in the face of starvation or crime or poverty or political or religious persecution or whatever, stand and look across the American Border into the land of opportunity, but not come in, because the American government says not to while simultaneously not keeping people from doing so, not punishing people that try, and in the cases that they do catch illegal aliens just drop the people back off south of the border?
      - Josh S
        
        Well, yeah, it’s a bit Don Quixote of any one person to take it upon themselves to flaunt what they consider unjust laws. But the idea of civil disobediance is hardly without precedent. The logic is questionable to those in a comfortable position in society or those with too much to lose. But no governing system, even ours, is immune from creating laws that are unjust. I assume your example of murder was intended to be absurd and keep the mood light. It hardly takes much effort to think of more reasonable examples where the law in question can more broadly and reasonably be deemed unjust – poll taxes, segregated facilities, taxation without representation, etc.
        So, yes, while it’s unworkable for individuals to make decisions about which law to follow and which laws not to follow, this in no way subtracts anything from the concept and reality of unjust laws.
Good time

Check the Weenie-Beenie and under the bridge over Walter Reed.
JamesE

Did they get bro iced?
- Southeast Jerome
  
  time to bring back Icing like rollerblading
- brendan
  
  looks like they did…
  - JamesE
    
    haha, perfect.
Bender

Sanctuary! Sanctuary!

I guess not.
The Dope of South Arlington

LOL. Eleven out of 31,000? What a joke.
Liz

No one is going to argue that we shouldn’t detain and deport criminal aliens, but is it really necessary to make racist comments about gardening and such? Have some class.
- Too Easy
  
  True dat
- mehoo
  
  Some people just can’t resist snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
- Maria
  
  Of course it’s necessary. This is the INTERNET. Duh.
  - Josh S
    
    +1. (Natch.)
- TGEoA
  
  For the record I think gardening and tacos are a good thing.
Rebecca

Who cares. What about the pothole on Washington Blvd that blew out my tire last week. That’s an issue I’d like to see addressed.
- The Dope of South Arlington
  
  If we didn’t have so many illegals driving around on our roads and tearing up the streets, we wouldn’t have so many potholes.
- JamesE
  
  Please to be saying which part so I can avoid.
- Maria
  
  If it’s the one by Utah, it’s filled. If it’s another one, I can’t help you. Did you report it?
Fitz

I’m sorry, but do you really need to call undocumented immigrants, “aliens”? You sound like Lou Dobbs. I am so embarrassed that your reporting is representing Arlington, VA. We’re better than this.
- KalashniKEV
  
  What do you propose we call them… Criminal Foreign Persons?
- Joe M.
  
  I’m not an illegal immigration crazy person, like others who seem to be here, but the term alien has been used for many many many years to describe people who are nominally not in their home country.
  
  see : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_(law)
  
  People on both sides of the aisle use language that emboldens their position.
  
  I don’t have a serious loyalty to either obvious position, but let be honest, saying undocumented immigrant for someone who is in America via some means outside the law is like calling a 15 year old who steals his parents car and has no driving license an “undocumented driver.”
- DT
  
  Yeah Fitz because the wording is the important thing. What can we call them that will satisfy your delicate illegal-loving senses?
- mehoo
  
  Fitz – alien is a perfectly proper and non-offensive term.
Country Club Hills

Who is going to mow my lawn and clean the guest house now?!?!?!?!?!?!
- Maria
  
  The racist jokes have already been made. Welcome to the party.
American363

“No one is going to argue that we shouldn’t detain and deport criminal aliens but is it really necessary to make racist comments about gardening and such? Have some class.” thanks Liz well said, I agree 100%; individuals with criminal records must be detained and jailed forever. The rest of you all amuse me, reading your all your ignorant and racist comments makes me wonder who stated that Arlington residents are among the best educated in the US; clearly all the racist comments show otherwise. Cheers!
Lyon Village

Mary and Barb: Can we get the NO TURN signs into the Village put back up to keep the illegals and other riff raff out of OUR neighborhood?
- brendan
  
  nice try…
anonymous coward

How refreshing that ICE is doing their job, and how sad that Wally Tejada and Arlington County leadership backs illegal immigrants. I’m not a racist or xenophobe – I speak Spanish, have lived in Mexico, love Latino food and culture, and understand and empathize with the difficult situations faced by many Latinos that drive them, and other folks, to illegally immigrate to the U.S.

Most illegal immigrants are good, hardworking, law abiding folks who’re just trying to support their families and get ahead. Many of them have better family values than the average American. While laudable, I still believe in LEGAL immigration, where the US CHOOSES who we want here, with what skills, on a temporary or permanent basis (that’s called sovereignty, folks). Illegal immigration not only robs the US of the right to choose, it also hurts folks who’re trying to immigrate by following the rules.

If the federal government does a bunch of studies and decides that our economy needs low-skilled, low-wage folks, fantastic. Set up a real guest worker program, where folks can make money for a couple years, earn a fair wage and be protected from exploitation, pay taxes, and go back to their families and home countries (as most would prefer to do) so someone else can have an opportunity. If they use it well, then hey, let them do another stint in a couple years.

The US needs to deal with harsh realities, including the fact that while US businesses (and homeowners) love inexpensive, illegal labor, it’s killing our government because in many cases these folks don’t generate nearly enough taxes to pay for the services they consume (emergency room/health care, primary & secondary schooling, and increasingly subsidized in-state college tuition for their kids, etc.) If we need more highly educated, high tech workers then raise the limits on H1-Bs, etc.

Obviously the federal government has done a crap job of enforcing current rules and modifying them as appropriate. That said, we’re purportedly a nation of laws and we should follow what’s on the books while we work actively to implement changes that make sense. The most difficult issues to grapple with are those surrounding illegal immigrants who’ve been productive members of US society for a long time, and who have kids who’re US citizens by virtue of being born here. I’ve thought about it a long time, and there are no easy answers…but deporting criminals is a no-brainer.
- rcw
  
  Well written. Well reasoned. I have read reports, however that most illegal immigrants consume far less then an average citizen in the way of state funded programs for fear of being found out or deported. Anyone have anything constructive to say on that?
  - madisonmanor
    
    Okay, I’ll bite. Can’t find exact statistics, but the reasoning follows your question – and I apologize in advance for not using multiple sources. VA 2009 population: 7,882,590 (quickfacts.census.gov). Arlington 2009 population: 217,483 (www.city-data.com/city). Arlington % of VA population: 2.76%.
    Virginia illegal immigrant population: 210,000 (washington examiner 02/01/11 article). Arlington % of that = 5,794 illegal immigrants. Now if only 10% of those illegal immigrants attend Arlington schools (a VERY conservative estimate), at $18k apiece, that comes to over $10M just for school costs – more than enough to re-lane the bridge AND pay for extended library hours. Not saying that’s a solution, but it SHOULD be a consideration.
    - rcw
      
      Right but they also (generally not in every case) are paying taxes in the form of payroll tax and their labor output drives revenue which again is also taxed.
      
      My argument that is their labor is a net revenue gain and not the monumental cost that it is made out to be (honestly I don’t know enough that is why I asked).
      
      Lastly you are implying that 10% of those 5k+ illegals are school aged? I don’t think so but if they have had children while residing in the US those children by default under the law are US citizens. And thus don’t account for a loss of revenue based on their immigration status.
      - madisonmanor
        
        But using your argument, if the parents are illegals, they might be paying sales tax but not payroll tax (they can’t if they don’t have a valid ssn). I’ll even admit that they may pay SOME property tax via rent. According to arlington.virginia.com demographics, elementary and high-school children accounted for over 10% of the total population (10-year old data, and given the overcrowding of schools is probably more than that, so it’s more fact-based than implication. Therefore, I doubt that there is an equal give-and-take between the costs and the revenue.
        I actually agree with anonymous and your response. I was trying to bound your question with facts (such as they are – I can’t claim accuracy). I’d actually love to see a study of typical illegal immigrants’ salaries, taxes paid etc.
ClarendonBlvd

If you clicked on the statement link (and you should), you’d the arrests were not all latino/hispanics…exhibit A:

A 39-year-old British national and legal permanent resident of the United States was arrested in Madison, Virginia without incident on March 21. His criminal history includes a conviction for aggravated sexual battery of a child. He was taken into ICE custody pending a hearing before an immigration judge.
Brittanicus

ZERO TOLERANCE

IF YOU WANT THE 1986 IMMIGRATION CONTROL & REFORM ACT STRICTLY ENFORCED, DON’T EXPECT THIS LAW RESPECTED BY EITHER THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS.

By the tens of millions patriotic Americans and legal residents are joining the TEA PARTY, to halt the illegal immigration invasion. This has become a financially vicious circle that will not end, with either the deep entrenched Liberal-Democrats, Republicans or any political entity, other than the committed TEA PARTY. The TEA PARTY is growing much faster from the dominant Republicans corner, and certain politicians are discarding there old party ties to join this third party. Pro-sovereignty, anti-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION organizations are connecting with their regional tea party. The political demise will be apparent, when Governors, Mayors, Police Chief and city managers,council elected officials who support subsidizing billions of dollars in education, health care and unfunded mandates under Liberal Progressives are to be voted out of office. The Tea Party is an advocate for mandating E-Verify, Secure Communities and the 287 (g) police apprehension and questioning to check a persons nationality status.

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