Loudoun speakers press board on sheriff’s 287(g) agreement; supervisors say they lack authority

At the May 20 Loudoun County Board of Supervisors business meeting, about 25 residents used the public-comment period to urge the board to oppose the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office's memorandum of agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (commonly called a 287(g) agreement). Speakers described increased traffic stops and searches of Latino residents, reports of detentions that lead to deportations and widespread fear among immigrant families.

"They both fail to keep people safe," said Joel Cornell, a Sterling resident and preschool aide, referring to ICE and the sheriff's office. "They prey on our community through fear, intimidation and unaccountable violence." Cornell and other speakers said the county’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement is driving people into hiding, reducing cooperation with police and causing mental-health harms for children.

Why it matters: Residents and immigrant-rights groups told the board the agreement is harming public safety by eroding trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities. Speakers said the county bears financial and social costs when people avoid reporting crimes, stop attending school events, or withdraw from the workforce. Several speakers urged the board to press the sheriff or…