The Fairfax County Virginia Police Officer turned over an illegal immigrant he encountered during a traffic stop.
That illegal fails to show up for his deportation hearing, then was involved in a minor traffic accident while driving without a license, and the officer the one that is suspended for contacting ICE.
Fairfax County Police Chief Edwin C. Roessler Jr. says the police officer “deprived a person of their freedom” by cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The chief added that is unacceptable.
In a statement, the police chief said “Our county is one of the most diverse counties in the nation and no one should have the perception that FCPD is acting as a civil immigration agent for ICE.This matter damages our reputation and the longstanding policy that I have stated many times that our officers shall not act as immigration agents.”
The chief said the officer was working a traffic accident in the Huntington section of the Virginia county on Sept. 21 and came across someone without a driver’s license. When the officer ran the name, it returned a flag from ICE, which said the immigrant was a fugitive after failing to appear for a deportation hearing.The county’s system confirmed the warrant. The officer called, and an ICE employee responded.
The chief says the officer has been relieved of all law enforcement duties “pending the outcome of this investigation.”
The chief adds that he’s very concerned about the illegal immigrant, “we don’t even know about the family itself, who’s going to be separated. We don’t know if there’s kids involved.”