The Fairfax County, Virginia Council of Supervisors this week voted this week to ban federal employees, including the police, from voluntarily sharing information with the Department of Immigration and Customs.
The county is the first in the state to implement a policy called the Confidentiality and Public Confidentiality Policy, according to Fairfax BOS chairman Jeffrey McKay, who said during a board meeting on Tuesday that he expects the rule to be a ” model used throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and other states as well. “
The Trust Policy “will reaffirm what the role of local government is and the community’s desire to help everyone and allow everyone to show confidence that” Fairfax County is working “with them and not against them,” McKay said .
Neither ICE nor McKay responded immediately to Fox News questions.
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The ACLU Fairfax chapter said it was “thrilled” to announce the council vote in a Facebook post on Tuesday, adding that it is coordinating with CASA, the largest member-based Latin and immigrant organization in the Middle region. Atlantic.
“The policy prohibits cooperation and information sharing with ICE by all Fairfax agencies, including the police,” wrote ACLU Fairfax. “It also provides privacy protection for residents’ personal information; it restricts the sharing of information with all external entities. This helps all Fairfax residents, but especially immigrants because ICE is very adept at mining data from any source. . “
ICE will not have access to county resources and facilities that are not open to the public for information under the new policy. In addition, the policy expands on the different types of photo IDs that can be used for government services, subject officials to disciplinary enforcement if they fail to comply, and requires review of county forms.
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McKay said during Tuesday’s meeting that Fairfax BOS had been working on drafting the policy for about a year.
“While there are no known cases of general county officials voluntarily sharing information about a resident’s immigration status, such policies are undoubtedly essential steps to build community trust and transparency,” said McKay. “They also help to suppress fear in our community and ensure that everyone – everyone – is comfortable getting the necessary help from the local government.”
He added that the policy is especially important now during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The rule is an extension of the Fairfax County general order implemented in May that “enforced” a “long standing” rule that blocks direct police cooperation with ICE and sets guidelines for “police contact with immigrant communities,” he said. McKay.
Republican supervisor Pat Herrity was the only supervisor to vote against the policy.
Fairfax County BOS and the School Council follow a November 2017 policy called One Fairfax that “sets expectations for the consideration of racial and social equality and, in particular, significant community involvement in planning, developing and implementing policies, practices and initiatives. “
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The policy is committed to ensuring that undocumented immigrants have the “opportunity to fully participate in the region’s economic vitality, contribute to their preparation for the future and connect with their assets and resources”.
The Fairfax County attorney, the Human Resources Department and the Police Department helped to revise the trust policy, McKay said during the meeting.