Immigration

ICE in Arlington

Tuesday, August 18, 2026. We know of over 50 confirmed ICE kidnappings this past week in the Arlington and Falls Church areas. ICE abducted our neighbors from Ballston and Buckingham in North Arlington, and along Columbia Pike in South Arlington, as well as Culmore and Seven Corners in Falls Church.

ICE agents are killing people in America’s streets. ICE agents are pulling guns out on Virginians who simply exercise their First Amendment rights. There is reporting that ICE agents brutally beat one of our Arlington neighbors, José Mejía, so badly that he was hospitalized. Mr. Mejía has no known criminal record and was just on his way to a bus stop to get to work. ICE is out of control and has made us all tangibly less safe.

ICE’s top priority is not our Commonwealth’s safety. ICE is laser-focused on spending millions of dollars to equip themselves with electric gloves that painfully shock our neighbors. A device that has several known risks, including dangerous disruptions to heart rhythms and sudden death during prolonged use. ICE’s top priority is to cause more danger, fear, pain, and chaos in our communities.

We are urging our local, state, and federal elected official across the Commonwealth to take action to protect our neighbors and speak out against ICE’s lawless, reckless, and dangerous actions. We are also calling upon the Arlington County Police Department to immediately initiate a thorough investigation to uncover all the facts surrounding Mr. Mejía’s interaction with ICE last week.

This is happening here, in our community. Please donate your time, food, or money. Many families are afraid to leave their homes — even to buy groceries. Your support can help families survive this terrifying moment and stand together against the overwhelming, unconstitutional federal force devastating families and communities.