ICE | FFXnow

Published May 20, 2026 at 12:45PM | Updated May 20, 2026 at 2:52PM

Scenes from a Jan. 11, 2026 ICE Out for Good protest on Maple Avenue in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has taken a mixed approach to bills from Fairfax state Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim (D-37) intended to counter the Trump administration’s draconian approach to immigration enforcement.

The governor announced today (Wednesday) that she has signed SB 352 and its House of Delegates companion HB 1482, which ban law enforcement officers from covering their faces, while vetoing legislation (SB 351 and HB 650) that would restrict federal immigration agents from conducting civil arrests in certain public places, including courthouses, schools and health care facilities.

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Fairfax County prosecutor, sheriff defend immigration policies before Congress

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published May 15, 2026 at 9:15AM

Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano testifies during a congressional hearing May 14. (Screenshot via YouTube)

Republican lawmakers accused Fairfax County’s top prosecutor and sheriff of being soft on crime and endangering lives due to policies limiting cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement — a charge both denied during a tense congressional hearing yesterday (Thursday).

Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano and Sheriff Stacey Kincaid testified that they do not provide preferential treatment to immigrants, as congressional Republicans repeatedly alleged throughout the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement hearing.

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BREAKING: DOJ investigating Fairfax prosecutor over policy on immigrant defendants

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 6, 2026 at 3:50PM | Updated May 6, 2026 at 5:59PM

Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano speaks outside the Fairfax County Courthouse following a Fairfax High School student's sentencing for assault (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Trump administration has launched an investigation into the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office over its handling of cases involving undocumented immigrants as defendants.

The Justice Department notified Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano today (Wednesday) that it has opened an investigation into his office’s policy advising prosecutors to consider defendants’ immigration status when making decisions about plea agreements, charges and sentencing.

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Fairfax senator decries ‘toothless’ amendments to bills restricting ICE activities

By Emily Leayman

Published April 14, 2026 at 2:30PM

Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim (photo via Senator's Office)

Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) has recommended changes to bills on immigration enforcement from a Fairfax County state senator.

State Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim (D-37) had introduced Senate versions of the bills to restrict federal immigration enforcement in certain places, prevent law enforcement from wearing masks and ban state and local law enforcement agreements with federal immigration enforcement.

News

UPDATED: FCPS to investigate Fairfax HS groping allegations, as more victims emerge

By Jared Serre

Published March 24, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated March 25, 2026 at 7:33PM

Fairfax County Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Fairfax County Public Schools is planning its own investigation separate from the police into allegations that a Fairfax High School student groped multiple female students, Superintendent Michelle Reid announced.

In a letter sent on Monday (March 23) to families, Reid said that FCPS had retained the services of “an independent outside law firm to conduct a comprehensive review of this matter.”

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Fairfax senator confident that bills to ‘end ICE abuses’ will become law

By Jared Serre

Published March 4, 2026 at 11:45AM

The Virginia State Capitol building (file photo)

With less than two weeks left in the Virginia General Assembly’s 2026 legislative session, three bills authored by a Fairfax state senator that would “end ICE abuses” still have a chance to become law.

Each of the bills introduced by state Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim (D), which would place state-level restrictions on federal immigration enforcement activities, await action by the House of Delegates at large before potentially heading to the governor’s desk.

News

Interfaith vigil for Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Reston inspires mourning, calls for action

By Jared Serre and Angela Woolsey

Published January 30, 2026 at 3:45PM

Rep. James Walkinshaw speaks during a vigil held in Reston (via United Christian Parish/YouTube)

A capacity crowd filled a church in Reston yesterday (Thursday) to remember two U.S. citizens recently shot and killed by federal immigration officers in Minnesota.

Rep. James Walkinshaw, who helped organize the vigil, was joined by local religious and human rights leaders at United Christian Parish to commemorate the lives of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, along with others who have recently died in the custody of or during encounters with federal immigration agencies.

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Fairfax CA Steve Descano helps launch ‘FAFO’ team weighing charges against feds

By Jared Serre

Published January 29, 2026 at 11:45AM | Updated January 29, 2026 at 1:46PM

Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano at a press conference to launch a diversion program in Fairfax City in January 2024 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Nine progressive prosecutors around the country, including Fairfax County’s Steve Descano, have joined forces in hopes of holding federal agents accountable for violating state laws.

The Project to Fight Against Federal Overreach (FAFO) coalition, which launched yesterday (Wednesday), aims to “rein in unlawful conduct” amid a growing presence of federal immigration and law enforcement in communities across the country.

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Partial federal shutdown seems increasingly likely as Democrats demand ICE changes

By Associated Press

Published January 28, 2026 at 4:30PM | Updated January 28, 2026 at 7:43PM

A demonstrator holds a sign during a rally outside of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

By MARY CLARE JALONICK and KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — As a partial government shutdown looms at week’s end, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has laid out a list of demands for the Department of Homeland Security, including an enforceable code of conduct for federal agents conducting immigration arrests and a requirement that they identify themselves to the public.

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State Sen. Salim highlights proposed bills to ‘end ICE abuses’ across Virginia

By Jared Serre

Published January 28, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated January 28, 2026 at 9:42AM

Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim (photo via Senator's Office)

With the nation’s eyes on Minneapolis after residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti were fatally shot by federal agents this month, Democratic lawmakers have become increasingly critical of the Trump administration’s aggressive approach to immigration enforcement, with some calling for Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s impeachment.

In Richmond, state Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim is pushing three pieces of legislation that he says will keep “the chaos, lawlessness, and violence that we have seen perpetrated against Minnesotans from coming to Virginia.”