Source: Fox News
Summary
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling on Virginia’s Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger to ensure local law enforcement cooperates with federal immigration officials to hand over an illegal immigrant with a lengthy criminal record who allegedly killed a woman at a Virginia bus stop. The suspect, Abdul Jalloh, 32, has a criminal history of over 30 arrests. The request comes after Spanberger signed an executive order to end cooperation between federal immigration officials and state and local law enforcement. DHS is urging Virginia officials to commit to not releasing Jalloh without notifying ICE.
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As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
The Department of Homeland Security is calling on the governor to cooperate with federal immigration officials. The suspect has a lengthy criminal record and was previously ordered to be removed from the country. The request comes after a similar case in December where an illegal immigrant was released from jail and went on to commit a crime. The sheriff’s office has stated that they follow all local, state, and federal laws when determining whether a person is subject to release. The governor’s representatives have not responded to requests for comment.
The sequence of events is familiar: a crime is committed, a suspect is arrested, and the issue of immigration cooperation is raised. The governor’s executive order is seen as a challenge to federal authority, and the DHS is pushing back. The case is likely to become a rallying cry for both sides of the immigration debate.
One observation: the language used by the DHS spokesperson, Lauren Bis, is notable for its emphasis on the “safety of the American people.” This framing is likely to be repeated in future discussions of immigration policy.
Author: Evan Null
