Source: Fox News
Summary
A hearing by the House Judiciary Committee turned tense as lawmakers questioned Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephen Descano, who has been criticized for his soft-on-crime policies. Descano, who was backed by George Soros, was grilled by Rep. Jim Jordan and Rep. Jeff Van Drew over his handling of cases involving illegal immigrants. The hearing was sparked by the murder of Stephanie Minter, whose mother, Cheryl, was in attendance. Lawmakers also questioned Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Ann Kincaid and libertarian analyst David Bier. The hearing highlighted the contentious debate over sanctuary policies and immigration enforcement.
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As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
Lawmakers questioned Descano’s changes to his website regarding immigration consequences in charging decisions. Descano said the language was part of a “campaign” statement, not actual policy. Jordan pressed Kincaid on why she released an illegal immigrant suspect, to which she replied that a judge ordered his release. Van Drew criticized sanctuary policies and asked Descano if communities are safer when illegal immigrant criminals are deported or released. The exchange quickly escalated into near-shouting. Bier defended counties making their own decisions about cooperating with federal law enforcement, but his suggestion that 20% of Fairfax County’s population is deportable raised eyebrows.
The hearing was a performance of outrage and indignation, with lawmakers using the tragic case of Stephanie Minter to highlight the failures of Descano’s policies. The tense exchanges and shouting matches were a familiar ritual in the long-running debate over immigration enforcement.
Author: Evan Null
