Arlington County Leaders Tell Residents to Call 911 When They See ICE in the Community

Overview

• Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said calls would help officials track ICE activity in Arlington to support the county’s violence-prevention mission.
• He emphasized that residents and public-safety personnel are prohibited from interfering with federal immigration enforcement.
• Board member Takis Karantonis said he would always call 911 in these situations, rejecting suggestions to use a non-emergency line.
• Critics warned that routing ICE sightings to 911 risks clogging emergency lines and increasing misidentifications.
• The stance follows Virginia’s rescission of a 287(g) cooperation pact and de Ferranti’s note that ICE is not required to notify the county of operations; he also said at least 19 people have been removed from Arlington.