Alexandria council fields fears over ICE activity, says sheriff is independent

Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley and four council members addressed resident fears about Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity at a Saturday town hall, stressing limits on local authority and urging both individual outreach to the sheriff and broader legislative pressure.

Bagley opened by clarifying that Alexandria Police Department officers are not participating in ICE enforcement in the community and that APD’s role is local criminal enforcement, not immigration operations. “Our police department is not participating in any ICE activity in the community,” she said, framing that as a point of reassurance for residents.

Councilman John Taylor Chapman urged residents to press federal lawmakers for change, saying local officials have limited leverage over ICE: “Going to our federal folks is, I think, the only option,” he said. Chapman added that state-level support matters and that an ally in the governor’s office would increase local influence.

Councilman Kirk McPike stressed the universal right to due process and explained the practical limits of the council’s power over the county sheriff, an independently elected official. McPike said many transfers to ICE occur when someone is arrested, seen by a magistrate judge and placed in sheriff custody, and he urged residents with concerns to meet with Sheriff Sean Casey directly. “If you have concerns about how he is conducting his role, you… have opportunities to meet with him,” McPike said.

Several council members recommended pursuing state-level remedies as well, including asking a future attorney general for an opinion on whether sheriffs must comply with administrative warrants, and using legislative committees to press the General Assembly for statutory changes. Council members also described local steps taken to protect residents, including a “know your rights” campaign and public-facing guidance distributed by the city.

Council members said they regularly communicate with Sheriff Casey and other stakeholders and will continue dialogue while recognizing the council’s limited legal tools—emphasizing outreach, supporting residents’ direct engagement with the sheriff, and advocating for congressional and state action. The town hall segment on immigration and ICE ran for roughly 25 minutes and concluded with council members asking residents to continue submitting questions through official channels.