Alexandria council reads statement urging sheriff to stop voluntary transfers to ICE

Mayor Lee Gaskins read a statement on behalf of the Alexandria City Council at the legislative meeting in November asking the sheriff to stop voluntary transfers of people in his custody to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pursuant to administrative detainers and administrative warrants. "Alexandria has always been and will continue to be a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming community," Gaskins said, adding that "supporting and safeguarding our immigrant communities while maintaining public safety are not mutually exclusive goals."

Gaskins acknowledged the sheriff's office is an independently elected constitutional office with discretion on whether to honor administrative warrants and said the council did not allege the sheriff's practice is unconstitutional but described ICE tactics it has observed as involving "fear, intimidation and lack of due process." The mayor asked the sheriff to align practices with neighboring jurisdictions that the council said complete transfers only in compliance with judicial warrants. "We call upon the sheriff to cease his transfer of persons in his custody in response to ICE administrative detainers and warrants," Gaskins said.

The statement said the council will continue to engage community and faith leaders and explore policies to protect immigrant neighbors while upholding the constitution and rule of law. There was no separate roll-call vote on the content of the statement recorded in the meeting transcript; the mayor read the council statement aloud near the end of the legislative session before adjournment.

Context and next steps: the mayor framed the statement as the council's collective position after months of meetings with community stakeholders and individual conversations with the sheriff. The council said it will continue dialogue with the sheriff's office and consider policy options to protect residents and ensure due process.