Tighter restrictions on when Arlington police can contact federal authorities about undocumented immigrants are going into effect.
Following a 4-1 Arlington County Board vote, local police can only initiate contact with U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in contexts involving identified gang members and certain serious crimes.
The change also clarifies that the Arlington County Police Department can accept identification such as school IDs and foreign government IDs.
Several Board members argued that the change strengthens protections for undocumented residents while remaining within federal and state law.
“We are facing … very, very tough times, and we have to be very careful and very strategic in how we [manage] them,” said Vice-Chair Takis Karantonis. “We definitely don’t want to cause even more harm, which is fully possible.”
The vote, which received support from all Board members except Maureen Coffey, followed forceful public comment from activist organizations and several community members who argued that the changes don’t go far enough.
Critics erupted in chants and cries of protest as Chair Libby Garvey called for a vote on Saturday — causing the meeting to go into recess for about 15 minutes.
“At this point, by voting for these changes, you are clearly saying that you are okay with Arlington County collaborating with the incoming Trump administration to separate families,” said Amber Qureshi, an immigration attorney and member of the social justice organization La ColectiVA.
She called for the Board to remove the entire section of the county policy — titled “Arlington’s Commitment to Strengthening Trust with our Immigrant Communities” — that concerns when ACPD can initiate contact with federal immigration authorities.
Qureshi and other speakers also urged the county to allow all departments to accept a range of IDs.
Speaker Allison Beltran further argued that the changes “are keeping loopholes open that the next presidential administration will undoubtedly exploit to deport our neighbors en mass.”
“I ask you, how can you consciously let down your neighbors, when you have the power to create these strong protections as policy?” she said.
Under the new policy, ACPD can contact federal immigration authorities only under the following circumstances.
- A undocumented immigrant has been identified as a gang member and is wanted, or arrested for, a violent felony or a criminal street gang offense.
- An undocumented immigrant “is arrested for a felony offense or is a confirmed gang member, where circumstances indicate notification to federal immigration authorities is prudent to maintain community safety.”
- An undocumented immigrant is arrested on suspicion of terrorism or human trafficking.
An on-duty watch commander or a supervisor with the rank of lieutenant or higher must also approve contact with federal authorities.
Several Board members noted limits to the extent of these expanded protections.
“The county must comply with federal and state laws and regulations, no matter what we may personally think about them,” Chair Libby Garvey said. “The trust policy makes clear that we will do what we can under law to make sure Arlington remains a safe and welcoming home to all — but it’s very important that everyone understands what we can and what we cannot do.”
Though speakers called for the Board to defer a vote and re-examine what federal and state law actually requires, Garvey argued that this could backfire.
“Think about it right now,” she said. “Is this a time that we want to draw attention and press on this issue here? … I don’t think so. I believe it is dangerous — and I’m just going to say that, right now.”
Garvey did not elaborate on what dangers she foresees.
Coffey, before casting her dissenting vote, noted the difference between being arrested for suspected terrorism or street gang offenses, and being convicted. She argued that the change fails to provide “due process.”
“I do think that this policy as revised represents an improvement, but I’m not convinced that is the right end point,” she said.
Karantonis said the county is currently reconsidering other policies, and encouraged residents to contact the county “every time you find an issue with documentation.”
