ICYMI: Immigration Town Hall Held Saturday in Fairfax County

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA -- As federal immigration enforcement intensifies, local leaders will clarify local government's role at a community forum Saturday, April 8 from 10 a.m.-noon.

The discussion will center on individual rights when interacting with law enforcement, Fairfax County's role in immigration enforcement and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.

Panelists at the event will include Chairman Sharon Bulova of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Chief of Police Ed Roessler, Fairfax County Sheriff Mark Sites, Claire Gastañaga, executive director of the Virginia American Civil Liberties Union and Meredith McKeen of Northern Virginia Family Services.

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Hosting the forum is the county's Communities of Trust Committee, created after the events in Ferguson, Mo. to foster positive relationships between public safety agencies and the community. The event is located at in the board auditorium of Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Pkwy, Fairfax, VA.

The forum comes after the Board of Supervisors passed a diversity and inclusion resolution Tuesday in light of rising hate-related incidents. The resolution states that immigration enforcement is not the county's responsibility, although it will comply with federal officials in serious criminal cases.

WTOP reports that the resolution did not pass without sparking debate. Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) said the resolution is more of a political response and does not address issues like gang violence and the impact on the public school system.

But Supervisor Jeff McKay (D-Lee) countered that gang activity is not limited to illegal immigrants.

“I resent the attitude that gang violence somehow is only directed toward illegal immigration. We have gang challenges in the county, and, as several others have acknowledged, some of those gang activities are occurring from children who are United States residents,” McKay said.

Follow Patch for updates from the town hall Saturday evening.

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