Virginia Democrats Highlight Priorities on Public Safety
Virginia Democrats are once again demonstrating their priorities to voters.
In my state, it seems clear that political leaders often neglect their fundamental obligation to protect citizens, penalize those trying to ensure safety, and consolidate power while avoiding accountability.
Recently, Fairfax County has been in the news for incidents related to illegal immigration offenses.
In the most recent case, an adult illegal immigrant enrolled in a local high school has been accused of inappropriately touching several of his classmates.
Israel Flores Ortiz illegally entered the country during the Biden administration. Despite being nearly 19, he attended Fairfax High School as a junior. Over a dozen girls have alleged that Ortiz sexually assaulted them by groping them in a hallway.(Related: Virginia parents assert that an adult male illegal immigrant student who came to the U.S. under the Biden administration molested their daughters.
This situation seems to encapsulate a poor calculation on someone’s part. Vulnerable young girls were allegedly targeted by an adult who shouldn’t have been in the country at all. Yet, the typical responses from officials have emerged: excuses, indifference, and a greater focus on potential backlash than on keeping the community safe.
It took the school two weeks to inform parents about these events. When they finally did, they effectively downplayed Ortiz’s actions, which resulted in more harassment directed at the girls.
One mother remarked, “I think Fairfax County has been trying to minimize what happened to these girls from the start.”
Another mother added, “The parents had to request the letter.” Those who received the communication noted that the school described Ortiz’s alleged actions as “butt groping.” But these incidents were more serious than that; victims reported that Ortiz had grabbed their entire genitals. Such downplaying by the school only led to further “harassment” from peers, who teased the girls for being overly dramatic.
The attempts to downplay the situation didn’t stop with the school. Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano’s office actually agreed to bail for Ortiz’s attorney, allowing the possibility of Ortiz’s release. Fortunately, the judge ultimately denied bail due to concerns about public safety.
Since Ortiz is undocumented, ICE issued a detainer for his deportation. However, ICE has indicated that the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office is not cooperating. This is reminiscent of previous issues; after being elected, sheriff Stacey Kincaid reversed her department’s policy of working with ICE.(Related: Virginia Democratic Party reconsiders gun bill exemption following public outcry)
It’s become increasingly evident that Fairfax County’s elected officials are not prioritizing our safety. Yet, when residents aim to protect themselves with legally owned firearms, they become the new targets of regulation.
