A Message from Mayor Alyia Gaskins and Members of City Council
As we witness the horrific actions carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement happening across our country, the Mayor and the City Council wish to reiterate not only our commitment to upholding all Alexandrians' human rights, but also, our city’s approach to keeping our community safe.
Everyone in Alexandria, regardless of immigration status, has constitutional rights, including the right to due process and equal protection under the law. City leadership remains firmly committed to upholding these principles and to fostering a community where all residents feel safe accessing city services, reporting crimes, and participating fully in civic life and can do so without fear of harassment.
ICE in the City
We know that ICE has been active in Northern Virginia and in Alexandria specifically. However, neither the City Manager nor Alexandria City Council or State officials are formally notified when ICE activity increases.
Federal immigration enforcement activities are conducted independently of the City of Alexandria. The city does not assist with civil immigration enforcement, and we do not receive a heads up when ICE enters the city.
Because ICE operations are not transparent and ICE officers are typically masked and do not identify themselves, our residents and businesses are rightly concerned about these potential operations.