The Arlington County Board on Dec. 22 issued a letter, in Spanish and English, reaffirming the county’s commitment to welcoming immigrant populations, regardless of legal status.
Dear Arlington Residents:
On behalf of the board, thank you for sharing your thoughts supporting Arlington’s position as an inclusive and welcoming community.
Arlington has long been a community that welcomes others, embracing and serving our vast population that includes people from all walks of life, race, ethnic groups and religions.
We are an inclusive community that welcomes immigrant populations, regardless of legal status. We also made it clear in our statements on the 2016 Presidential Election delivered at our Recessed Board Meeting in November 2016, and in the resolution that we adopted in 2007, a Resolution Supporting Arlington’s Newcomers.
It is long-standing policy that Arlington County law enforcement has not and will not monitor, detain, interview, or investigate a person solely for the purpose of determining their immigration status. Action by our law enforcement officers is based upon reasonable suspicion or probable cause of criminal activity, and we have a strong policy against racial profiling which prohibits our deputies and officers from taking action based solely on that individual’s race, ethnicity or national origin. Importantly, a person’s right to file a police report, participate in police-community activities, or otherwise benefit from police services is not contingent upon citizenship or immigration status.
As you probably know, Federal law governs immigration issues entirely, and federal law enforcement authorities have exclusive authority to enforce those laws. Arlington County has no role in that enforcement.
It is the board’s pledge that Arlington will remain an inclusive, welcoming community where everyone is valued and respected and has the opportunity to live out their dreams, regardless of their legal status. We believe that in our debates we must remember we are speaking of human beings — our neighbors, our colleagues, our classmates — who are simply seeking the same safety, security, freedom and opportunity that we are all so privileged to enjoy. I hope this information is helpful to you and that you will share it with anyone who has concerns about our community.
Libby Garvey
Chair, Arlington County Board