Residents at the Beacon Hill Apartments in Fairfax County were awoken to early-morning visits from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials on Sunday.
One unnamed resident told NBC4 Washington that agents knocked on his door around 6:15 a.m. They identified themselves as the police, and said they had a warrant. He described them as a group of four or more men, “decked out in what I would describe as, like, tactical gear.”
Surveillance video showed officers wearing vests saying “police” and “ERO” for Enforcement and Removal Operations, a branch of ICE.
Another unnamed resident said the agents knocked hard on the door and “were trying to force it open.”
These arrivals in Fairfax County coincide with increased ICE activity around the country. ICE arrested nearly 1,000 people around the country on Sunday alone, according to a post from the agency on X.
Many of these arrests have been concentrated in large cities around the country, including Chicago, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, according to NBC News.
In addition, the Department of Homeland Security issued a directive on January 20 that allows immigration enforcement to happen in “sensitive areas.” These include schools, churches, and hospitals.
In response, Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid shared a statement last week. She affirmed that, per the 1982 Supreme Court case Plyer v. Doe, all children have the right to public education regardless of immigration status. And that FCPS is not legally allowed to collect the immigration status of students or families.
“We will continue to do all that we can — to the fullest extent allowable by law — to protect our students and staff and to ensure access to safe and vibrant learning spaces for our students, families, and staff,” Reid said.
The Virginia ACLU has shared guidance online for what to do if you are not a U.S. citizen and you are stopped or questioned by the police or ICE.
The guidelines say that if ICE comes to your home, you should keep the door closed and ask the officers if they have a warrant. If they do, “ask them to show it to you through the peephole or slip it under the door.” The guidance also says to never lie, falsely claim to be a U.S. citizen, or present any false documents of any kind.
Feature image of ICE officer courtesy Immigrations and Customs Enforcement
