ICE Allowed Access To Prince William Co. Training Facility, To Ire Of Immigrant Advocates

MANASSAS, VA — An agreement to allow U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement access to a firearms training facility gained approval from the Prince William Board of County Supervisors Tuesday. An advocacy group for immigrants called the supervisors' decision a "betrayal."

The Board of County Supervisors voted 4-3, with Supervisors Tom Gordy (R-Brentsville), Yesli Vega (R-Coles), Bob Weir (R-Gainesville) and Andrea Bailey (D-Potomac) voting in favor. Chair Deshundra Jefferson (D-at large) and Supervisors Margaret Frankin (D-Woodbridge) and Kenny Boddye (D-Occoquan) voted against. Supervisor Victor Angry (D-Neabsco) was not present for the vote.

The county had purchased the facility at 7751 Doane Drive in Manassas, now named the Mike Pennington Scenario-Based Training Center, in 2023 for firearms and scenario-based police training. Prince William County Police manage the facility and entered an agreement with ICE in 2024 to allow use of the training facility.

According to a Board of County Supervisors memo, ICE will get classroom and range access for up to 30 days in the 2026 fiscal year. ICE will reimburse Prince William County for the costs of using the facility. The cost for ICE using the facility each day will be $800, which would result in a $24,000 reimbursement if ICE utilizes all 30 days.

CASA, an immigrant advocacy group with a Virginia chapter, said the decision sends a message that ICE is welcome and risks breaking community trust.

"By siding with ICE, these supervisors have chosen to enable a federal agency known for terrorizing immigrant families and separating loved ones," said Luis Aguilar, state director of CASA in Virginia. "Their vote prioritizes politics and policing over people. Prince William County already has an anti-immigrant history due to 287(g) and these elected officials that voted in favor of this have truly failed their constituents in building a county that represents every constituent, regardless of where they are from."

Aguilar said it was "especially disappointing" for the measure to get support from a Democrat, as the party emphasizes values of equity and inclusion. The organization noted immigrant communities are already facing fears and increased enforcement under the Trump administration.

"By providing ICE agents with advanced scenario-based training, we are directly contributing to more efficient raids, more family separations, and more deportations," Aguilar said.

Prince William County used to have a 287(g) agreement with ICE since 2007 to assist with turning over suspected undocumented immigrants held in the jail. The county's jail board ended the agreement in June 2020, the Washington Post reported.