by worker-correspondent Jonathan Vassar
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request made by New Virginia Majority and ICE OUT of Loudoun has resulted in the acquisition of records documenting collaboration between the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE), outside of the LCSO’s purview, and contrary to their misleading claims.
Loudon County Sheriff Michael Chapman described the LCSO’s 287(g) Warrant Service Model agreement with ICE as not being “a so-called task-force model agreement,” and having “nothing to do with field enforcement operations.” The agreement is confined to assisting with administrative warrants for persons of interest already in custody. Up until now, the LSCO has reassured both the community and the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors that their collaboration with ICE does not extend outside of this 287(g) agreement. Not so.
According to the newly obtained data and statement made by a coalition of New Virginia Majority, SURJ Nova, Indivisible Nova West, Centreville Immigration Forum, Loudoun4All, and Congregation Action Network:
“At least 13 times between March 2025 and July 2026, deputies in the field called ICE to report where an immigrant neighbor could be found. Five had been pulled over for routine traffic violations. Four were involved in car accidents. Three had called 911 for help. One was a bystander with nothing to do with the investigation.“
In light of this new information, the LCSO media relations director Tom Julia has released a statement describing this as valid “information sharing” not having to do with enforcement. In other words, their claim is that this uncovered collaboration does not meet the criteria of a 287(g) task force model, and does not qualify as enforcement assistance.
This attempted evasion does not account for the fact that in the past LCSO officials have told the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors that deputies on patrol do not have access to immigration data, or an individual’s immigration status.
As the Loudon Times-Mirror reports, Supervisor Juli E. Briskman finds the new revelations “gravely concerning,” and deserving of a “full explanation,” as she was not informed that “deputies were contacting ICE during interactions with the public.”
Likewise, Board Chair Phyllis J. Randall states “The sheriff has repeatedly told BOS members, and more importantly the Loudoun community writ large, that his department has no engagement or interaction with ICE other than the 287(g) program in the Loudoun ADC,” and goes further to call for the termination of employment of anyone violating stated policy.
Up until this point, the denial of any ICE collaboration outside of the formal 287(g) agreement, is evidence in itself that the LCSO knew this was against the public trust. The abuse of this trust should be used as sufficient reason to dismantle the current 287(g) agreement in place, and to change its current leadership.
Loudoun County jail is being used as a detention entry point based on administrative warrants issued by ICE with no judicial authority. Courts of law across the U.S. have found these ICE holds to be unconstitutional.
The current leadership has lied to the community and to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. Their word is forfeit, and they cannot be trusted to execute their stated mission: “to continuously improve public safety…to all members of our community,” and to engage with the community through “courteous and proactive communication and outreach,” and to “work diligently to always be professional.” On Friday, the Sheriff announced he will decline a request for information to the Board of Supervisors.
“No one should fear that calling 911 for help, being involved in a traffic accident, or interacting with law enforcement on a routine matter could result in their information being reported to ICE, potentially leading to their lives and families being torn apart.”
Loudoun County Algonkian District Supervisor Juli E. Briskman
Want to help?
- join and support ICE out of Loudoun: look for event announcements from our comrades in SURJ NoVA and NVM
- donate to LaCollectiVA’s Free Them All fund, supporting those in detention
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