immigration | FFXnow

Published December 20, 2024 at 11:15AM

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announces a budget proposal on Dec. 12, 2024 that would require localities to comply with federal immigration detainers or lose funding (Photo by Austin Stevens, Office of Governor Glenn Youngkin)

Undocumented immigrants in Fairfax County and elsewhere in Virginia could face threats on two fronts in the new year, with both national and state elected leaders proposing policies targeting that population.

As incoming president Donald Trump plans mass deportations, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin unveiled a budget proposal this week that would require local governments to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and withhold funding from those with cooperation-limiting policies, including Fairfax County.

Countywide

Impact of Va. AG opinion on Fairfax County’s ICE cooperation policies unclear

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 10, 2024 at 11:45AM

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement's Washington Field Office in Chantilly (via Google Maps)

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares issued an apparent challenge last week to Fairfax County and other localities over their policies on cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

In a response to an inquiry from Bedford County Sheriff Michael Miller, Miyares released an opinion last Thursday (Sept. 5) confirming that local sheriffs have the authority to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when someone wanted for deportation proceedings is scheduled to be released.

Around Town

Reston art institute partners with Mexican embassy for first time on exhibit about immigrant experiences

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 7, 2023 at 3:00PM | Updated March 9, 2023 at 2:41PM

The exhibit marks the 50th anniversary of Tephra (Photo corutesy Cognate Collective).

A new exhibit opening this week at Reston’s Tephra Institute for Contemporary Art (Tephra ICA) celebrates the richness and complexity of the immigrant experience.

Partly powered by a partnership with the Mexican Cultural Institute of Mexico’s embassy in the U.S., the exhibit “Hacia la Vida/Toward Life” features work from artists of Mexican descent: Baltimore-based Hoesy Corono and the California duo Cognate Collective.

News

Vienna to welcome new citizens with first-ever naturalization ceremony on Fourth of July weekend

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 29, 2022 at 2:15PM

The U.S., Virginia, and Vienna flags fly from the veterans' memorial fountain by the Town Green (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

More than a dozen immigrants will experience their first moments as U.S. citizens at the Vienna Town Green this Saturday (July 2).

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will hold a naturalization ceremony that day for 15 people from Canada, the Congo, and other nations, who will take the Oath of Allegiance pledging support for their new home country at 5 p.m.

Countywide

FCPS employees now barred from disclosing information to ICE

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 29, 2022 at 1:30PM

A member of the immigrant advocacy organization CASA urges the Fairfax County School Board to adopt its proposed Trust Policy (via FCPS/YouTube)

Fairfax County Public Schools now has a new layer of protection for undocumented students and their families.

The Fairfax County School Board voted unanimously last night (Thursday) to prohibit employees from requesting, accessing, or disclosing information about a person’s citizenship or immigration status unless required by law or court order, or they get permission from the individual or a guardian.

Countywide

FCPS unveils ‘Trust Policy’ to prevent information sharing with ICE

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 13, 2022 at 3:55PM

Fairfax County School Board discusses a proposed "Trust Policy" at a work session (via FCPS/YouTube)

Fairfax County Public Schools is finalizing a new policy that will bar discrimination based on immigration or citizenship status and prohibit staff from disclosing that information unless required by law or a court order.

Requested by the school board last May, the proposed Trust Policy aligns closely with limits on information sharing by county government employees that the Board of Supervisors adopted in January 2021, FCPS staff said at a school board work session yesterday (Tuesday).