The Town of Herndon Police Department (HPD) hopes to quash rumors that it has been collaborating with federal immigration agents on raids.
Claims that local police have participated in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids began cropping up in phone calls to the police department a few weeks ago and have now emerged in social media posts, particularly on TikTok, according to HPD spokesperson Lisa Herndon.
The allegations are “unequivocally false,” the department said in a statement released yesterday (Tuesday).
“The Herndon Police Department is committed to serving and protecting all members of our community with professionalism, fairness, and integrity,” the HPD said. “We want to reassure our residents that our department does not participate in deportation raids or enforce federal civil detainers.”
Evidently seeking to fulfill his campaign promises of mass deportations, President Donald Trump has adopted a restrictive approach to immigration since returning to the White House on Jan. 20. In addition to scrapping existing limits on raids at schools, churches and other “protected” sites, his administration has suspended asylum programs, revoked temporary protections for Venezuelans and set up a detention facility at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba.
Trump also signed a law on Jan. 29 expanding ICE’s ability to detain and deport undocumented immigrants accused of crimes, including theft and shoplifting, regardless of whether they’ve been convicted. The measure passed Congress with bipartisan support, including from Virginia Sen. Mark Warner (D).
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has expressed opposition to “large-scale immigration enforcement,” and Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid said the school system “will do everything within our authority to protect our students and staff.”
The Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration has been of particular concern to the Town of Herndon, whose population is 44% foreign-born — the highest rate of any Northern Virginia locality, according to the Northern Virginia Regional Commission.
Bracing for changes at the federal level, the Herndon Town Council adopted a resolution on Dec. 10, 2024 affirming the town’s commitment to being a “safe and welcoming community for all.”
“The Town Council of Herndon remains committed to ensuring the safety, dignity, and rights of all residents regardless of their immigration status, and believes that everyone who resides in our town should be able to live without fear of harassment or unjust treatment,” the resolution said, directing the town manager to monitor federal and state laws for any potential impacts on Herndon.
At that meeting, which saw residents testify both for and against the resolution, Town Attorney Lesa Yeatts stated that the town has been adhering to the “Trust Policy” that Fairfax County adopted in 2021 to bar employees from sharing information with ICE unless required by law or a court order.
The Trust Policy has been challenged by Virginia’s Republican leaders, with Gov. Glenn Youngkin citing a rape case in Herndon as justification for a proposal to withhold funding from local police and sheriffs who don’t carry out administrative detainers issued by ICE.
Local officials, however, have argued that limiting information-sharing with ICE improves safety by reassuring immigrants that they can report crimes and talk to the police without fearing deportation.
In a Dec. 20 message, Herndon Police Chief Maggie DeBoard said her department doesn’t participate in “civil deportation roundups” by ICE, though it does work with federal authorities, including the Department of Homeland Security, “in response to serious criminal behavior.”
“No matter your status, if you are a victim of a crime, HPD will do everything in its power to keep you safe,” DeBoard said. “You should never fear calling us in times of an emergency.”
The HPD reiterated that sentiment yesterday, noting that it can’t verify information about any ICE operations in the town.
We have seen multiple social media posts spreading misinformation about Herndon Police Department’s involvement in deportation efforts. We have also received multiple calls regarding rumors that are being circulated of HPD’s involvement in immigration raids. This is unequivocally false.
Additionally, we have received inquiries about the presence of ICE conducting operations in the Herndon community; this is information that we are not privy to and cannot verify.
The Herndon Police Department is committed to serving and protecting all members of our community with professionalism, fairness, and integrity. We want to reassure our residents that our department does not participate in deportation raids or enforce federal civil detainers.
Our primary focus is on public safety and building trust with the community we serve. We do not inquire about immigration status during routine interactions. Our role is to protect and serve all individuals, regardless of their immigration status, and to foster an environment where everyone feels safe reporting crimes and seeking assistance from law enforcement.
While we do not enforce federal civil detainers, we will continue to work with our federal partners to ensure the safety of our community by holding violent and dangerous criminals accountable. Our collaboration with these agencies is focused on addressing serious threats and maintain the safety of all who visit, live, and work in Herndon.
We encourage anyone with concerns or in need of help to reach out to us without fear. Our priority is the well-being and safety of all members of the Herndon community.
For any questions or further clarification, please contact the Herndon Police Department at 703-435-6846 or Herndon.police@herndon-va.gov.
