According to the Prison Policy Initiative, jails “have become an essential part of implementing President Trump’s mass arrest and deportation agenda.” In fact, PPI data shows that, until May 2025, the majority of people detained by ICE were obtained from a local jail. By now we have all heard the advice given to immigrants: “Officers must have a warrant signed by a judge to enter your home.” You can and should ask: “Do you have a warrant signed by a judge?” Sheriff Casey can ask that very same question. As we understand it, he is not doing so. It is up to all of us to gather in community, ask important questions, and protect Alexandria from ICE.
Here in Alexandria, we have all seen statements from the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office (ASO). While we will address various specific ASO claims below, we are particularly concerned with the false claim that the ASO “is obligated to comply with all lawful arrest warrants issued by law enforcement agencies.” Because a “lawful warrant” can refer to an ICE administrative warrant or a judicial warrant, the ASO is being misleadingly imprecise. Grassroots Alexandria, along with the ICE Out of Alexandria coalition, is asking Sheriff Sean Casey to refuse to transfer anyone to ICE without a judicial warrant.
As we advocate for stronger protections for Alexandrians, we have received questions on social media and from the press. These are some of the questions that have been raised.
Q: Alexandria is a welcoming city. Aren’t we already doing our part to stop ICE?
A: Since Trump’s inauguration, ICE has conducted indiscriminate raids across the DMV area, including Alexandria. Despite the fact that the City Council and Sheriff have issued statements insisting that Alexandria does not collaborate with immigration enforcement, Sheriff Casey is facilitating the detention and deportation of our neighbors by transferring people to ICE.
Volunteers can support immigrant communities in their neighborhoods and at courthouses by joining New Virginia Majority’s volunteer network at bit.ly/NVMsolidarity. To write to the Sheriff and urge him to stop cooperating with ICE, click here.
Q: I wrote to our city council. Our sheriff also sent me an email. Everyone is telling me there is no collaboration with ICE. What is the truth?
A: People should not be surprised when politicians (the sheriff is elected) give incomplete or misleading information.
The key issue is that Sheriff Casey is continuing to hand people over to ICE when he receives an ICE detainer request and an administrative warrant. An ICE warrant is not the same as a judicial warrant and does not carry the same force of law. When Sheriff Casey says he “is obligated to comply with all lawful arrest warrants issued by law enforcement agencies,” we believe he is being inaccurate. Only a judicial warrant carries the force of law.
Q: Do other sheriffs require a judicial warrant before transferring people to ICE?
A: Yes. Other jurisdictions are enforcing clearer boundaries:
- In a 2024 statement, Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid explained that her office requires a judicial warrant before transferring anyone to ICE custody.
- Likewise, in 2020, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors — in a rare agreement with Sheriff Alex Villanueva — voted to permanently ban cooperation with federal immigration agents who lack a judicial warrant for inmates released from county jail.
Q: Can we really say “no” to ICE?
A: Anyone can refuse to open their door to ICE. If doing so, people are advised to ask: “Do you have a warrant signed by a judge?” Usually they don’t. There are many videos online that verify this. Sheriff Casey could ask that very same question and protect people that very same way. As we understand it, he does not do so. Instead he cooperates.
Q: How many Alexandrians are being detained or deported by ICE?
A: According to a Freedom of Information Act request from July 15, 2025, these are the numbers of people transferred, by the ASO, to ICE custody during 2012-2025:
2012, 147 people; 2013, 119 people; 2014, 96 people; 2015, 50 people; 2016, 56 people; 2017, 105 people; 2018, 121 people; 2019, 89 people; 2020, 35 people; 2021, 11 people; 2022, 12 people; 2023, 33 people; 2024, 42 people; 2025 (first half of 2025), 35 people.
Q: Sheriff Casey says he is acting legally, based on a “lawful warrant.” Is he wrong?
A: By not specifying the type of warrant (ICE administrative warrant versus a judicial warrant), he is using conveniently imprecise language. When he obeys an ICE warrant, he is acting legally, but he is not acting effectively to protect Alexandrians from ICE.
Sheriff Casey has options. It is legal to allow ICE to take custody of a person based on an ICE warrant and detainer request. It is also legal to refuse to hand a person over unless he receives a judicial warrant. At a time when ICE is flaunting due process, judicial oversight is extremely important.
Q: Sheriff Casey says he “will not transfer custody based on an ICE detainer alone.” Is he wrong?
A: An ICE detainer request is usually accompanied by an ICE administrative warrant. It is the warrant that authorizes the transfer, not the detainer.
Q: Sheriff Casey says he “will not hold anyone longer than their scheduled release date for ICE.” Is he wrong?
A: By saying “date” instead of “time,” he is using conveniently imprecise language. Sheriff Casey has told us that, for the convenience of ICE, he holds people for up to eight hours after the time when their paperwork is complete and they would normally be released.
Q: Are we violating the 4th amendment when we hold someone in jail, based on an ICE detainer?
A: According to the ACLU and the National Immigrant Justice Center, yes. By being careful to avoid holding anyone overnight for ICE, Sheriff Casey is attempting to side-step that issue.
Q: Where is your proof?
A: The proof is in Sheriff Casey’s responses to our specific questions. We have met with Sheriff Casey on multiple occasions. He consistently says he transfers people to ICE when he receives an ICE administrative warrant. He admits that he does not require a judicial warrant. This proof is accessible to anyone who chooses to ask Sheriff Casey a question. To avoid an evasive response, it is important to ask a very specific question: “Are you transferring people to ICE without requiring a judicial warrant?”
It is up to the public to ask Sheriff Casey to join with the rest of Alexandria to oppose ICE. It is up to all of us to stand up to ICE, including our local political leaders. Because our sheriff is elected, that includes Sheriff Casey. If you are able to do so, please reach out to Sheriff Casey. We need to be united against ICE, not divided against each other.
Q: I fully support the Sheriff transferring inmates to ICE. Let him do his job and keep us safe.
A: Please be aware that the people Sheriff Casey transfers to ICE are people newly released from jail. They are released because they posted bail, served their time, or were found not guilty. They are free people.
This question seems to be based on the myth that we should, whenever possible, stop our judicial system from releasing anyone to the public, ever. This, the logic of mass incarceration, is the reason the US, with 4% of the world’s population, has 20% of the world’s prisoners. If we were an average nation, 4 out of 5 people in prison would not be there. If over-policing solved our problems we would have no problems.
It is our fervent wish that, someday, one of the two major political parties will vigorously oppose mass incarceration.
Q: I respect law enforcement officers and think that others should do the same. But ICE is outside of the law and undeserving of my respect. Why is Sheriff Casey treating ICE with respect?
A: We don’t know. However, it’s our opinion that, as Sheriff Casey continues to cooperate with ICE, he risks losing the respect of his community.
Q: I think all police are dangerous, especially ICE. Can we come together in the spirit of mutual aid and “we keep us safe” to protect our friends, neighbors and selves against ICE?
A: Yes. Join a group. Any group. Talk to your neighbors. Sign up for training here. Or here. Or here. Sign up to hear more from Grassroots Alexandria or the ICE Out of Alexandria coalition. Be patient with yourself (and with your neighbors) as you climb the learning curve. When we practice democracy, democracy becomes easier. When we fight, we win.