Local Leaders Urge Residents to Report ICE Sightings

The chairman of the Democratic Arlington County Committee, Matt De Ferranti, along with committee member Takis Karantonis, have called on Northern Virginia residents to contact 911 if they notice Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in their neighborhoods.

During a recent board of directors meeting, the event started with a moment of silence for civilians who have died due to interactions with ICE, highlighting the case of Renee Good, who was fatally shot by ICE agents after a confrontation. De Ferranti suggested that residents use the 911 emergency line to alert local authorities about ICE’s presence in Arlington County.

“I want to be clear: the law prevents us, as public safety professionals, from obstructing federal immigration enforcement,” De Ferranti stated. “Our duty is to comply with the law while also safeguarding our community members. That includes reaching out to 911 when we notice ICE activity.”

He emphasized that notifying 911 is beneficial for understanding ICE’s movements, which helps local law enforcement implement their mission effectively and minimize community violence.

Greg Klass, a former Arlington police officer, expressed disagreement with this approach. He noted concerns regarding Virginia House Bill 1314, which critics argue could undermine officers’ legal protections and expose them to lawsuits. De Ferranti contended instead that it might be more effective to direct the public to non-emergency lines to prevent overwhelming 911.

Karantonis countered Klass’s viewpoint, stating he would report any sightings of ICE agents to 911. He expressed concerns over the potential for negative outcomes resulting from ICE actions, suggesting that their operations could have dire implications for community safety.

Both De Ferranti and Karantonis did not provide immediate responses to inquiries from news sources regarding their statements.

Opposition to ICE has grown among some Democratic politicians following several recent fatal incidents involving immigration agents. Representative Jason Crow from Colorado indicated that Congress might need to use budget negotiations to pursue changes in ICE policies.

Interestingly, a few Democrats have diverged from party lines, openly supporting ICE. For example, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has rejected calls from party members to defund or dismantle the agency.

The Department of Homeland Security has not yet responded to requests for commentary on the directors’ recent statements.