Chairmen Jordan and McClintock Demand Information on Sanctuary Policies from Arlington County Officials
May 4, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Chairman Tom McClintock (R-CA) sent letters to Arlington County and the City of Falls Church prosecutor Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, Arlington County Police Chief Charles Penn, and Arlington County Sheriff Jose Quiroz demanding information on the county's refusal to cooperate with federal law enforcement to ensure that dangerous criminal aliens are not released onto northern Virginia streets.
During Dehghani-Tafti's tenure, the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church has undermined the rule of law under the guise of safeguarding the public. Dehghani-Tafti previously committed to "take immigration status into consideration when making charging decisions on minor infractions" so illegal aliens can avoid "collateral consequences," such as deportation. These policies give illegal aliens preferential treatment over U.S. citizens solely based on their immigration status.
Both Arlington County Police Chief Penn and Arlington County Sheriff Quiroz have bolstered northern Virginia's sanctuary policies, which protect criminal aliens from accountability and have devastating consequences.
During Dehghani-Tafti's tenure, the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church has undermined the rule of law under the guise of safeguarding the public. Dehghani-Tafti previously committed to "take immigration status into consideration when making charging decisions on minor infractions" so illegal aliens can avoid "collateral consequences," such as deportation. These policies give illegal aliens preferential treatment over U.S. citizens solely based on their immigration status.
Both Arlington County Police Chief Penn and Arlington County Sheriff Quiroz have bolstered northern Virginia's sanctuary policies, which protect criminal aliens from accountability and have devastating consequences.
In July 2025, instead of honoring an ICE detainer, the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office released into the community a twice-deported illegal alien who was convicted of assaulting an Arlington teenager. As a result of the release, ICE was forced to arrest the illegal alien at-large in the community, where he could have reoffended, instead of in a secure facility.
In April 2026, an illegal alien was arrested in an Arlington neighborhood for assaulting a woman. Despite the illegal alien's yearslong criminal history, Arlington County law enforcement repeatedly released him back into the community after Dehghani-Tafti failed to prosecute him for multiple crimes.
Because of Arlington County's pro-crime, pro-illegal immigration policies, illegal alien criminals are allowed to freely operate, terrorize local communities, and reoffend without consequences. Like other sanctuary jurisdictions the Committee has examined, the shielding of criminal aliens from immigration enforcement in Arlington County, Virginia, undermines public safety and thwarts the efficient enforcement of federal law
Read the letter to Dehghani-Tafti here.
Read the letter to Chief Penn here.
Read the letter to Sheriff Quiroz here.
Because of Arlington County's pro-crime, pro-illegal immigration policies, illegal alien criminals are allowed to freely operate, terrorize local communities, and reoffend without consequences. Like other sanctuary jurisdictions the Committee has examined, the shielding of criminal aliens from immigration enforcement in Arlington County, Virginia, undermines public safety and thwarts the efficient enforcement of federal law
Read the letter to Dehghani-Tafti here.
Read the letter to Chief Penn here.
Read the letter to Sheriff Quiroz here.
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