Overview

The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office does not collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Our involvement with ICE is strictly limited to what is required by law, and we take care to ensure that our actions remain compliant with all applicable legal mandates. The Sheriff’s Office values all our residents, and we work with local organizations to support our immigrant population.

Legal Requirements for ICE Notification

Virginia law requires that we communicate with ICE regarding inmates in our custody who have been charged with crimes. If ICE determines that it wishes to take custody of an inmate, it will issue a Detainer/Notice of Action (Form I-247A) indicating that a warrant for arrest has been issued. These documents are entered into the Sheriff’s Office jail management system, and staff are notified of the arrest warrant when the inmate is scheduled to be released.

Explanation of ICE Detainers

The detainer (Form I-247A) issued by ICE is a formal request for the Sheriff’s Office to take certain actions. However, as clarified by the Virginia Attorney General, this detainer is “merely a request.” It does not legally obligate or authorize law enforcement to maintain custody of an inmate who is otherwise eligible for immediate release from local or state custody. Sheriff Casey fully concurs with this opinion and, as a result, the Sheriff’s Office takes no legal action based on the detainer.

Sheriff’s Office Policy and Practice

• We do not comply with ICE detainers by holding any inmate past their release date.
• We do not permit ICE to assume custody of an inmate based on an ICE detainer.
• We do not allow ICE to take custody of an inmate without a federal arrest warrant.

Procedures for Lawful Transfer of Custody

All law enforcement agencies, including ICE, must follow the same procedures and requirements when seeking custody of an inmate from our jail. This standardized process includes the Sheriff’s Office notifying the requesting agency of an inmate’s release date, a procedure consistent with current law, formal policy, and best practices. All transfers to ICE, or to any other law enforcement agency, are carried out promptly, professionally, safely, and in accordance with the law. It is important to note that there is no single fixed “release time” for inmates.

Limited Involvement with ICE

The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office does not participate in any activities with ICE beyond those required by law. To that end, Sheriff Casey rejected the Governor’s Office demand that the Sheriff’s Office participate and cooperate in immigration enforcement in our communities and Sheriff Casey removed ICE from our federal jail contract with the United States Marshals Service. Apart from the legal obligations described above, the Sheriff’s Office has no other involvement with ICE.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at 703.746.4114. You may also reach out to Lieutenant Victor Ignacio, who is fluent in Spanish, at 703.746.5013. If someone you know needs assistance, please contact us. We are here to help and will do our best to provide support.

November 5, 2025

The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office is a public safety agency committed to ensuring the safety and security of the diverse communities we proudly serve. The Sheriff’s Office operates the Alexandria Adult Detention Center and complies with local, state, and federal laws.

All Sheriffs in Virginia are required by Code of Virginia §19.2-83.2 and §53.1-218 to determine the citizenship of individuals arrested on felony charges and share this information with ICE as specified in these code sections.

During the booking process, fingerprints are automatically transmitted to a state database to which local, state and national law enforcement agencies, including ICE, have access.

In accordance with Virginia Code §53.1-220.2, the Sheriff’s Office transfers custody of an inmate to ICE on their scheduled release date, provided ICE has filed a lawful arrest warrant.

Following are the number of inmates transferred to ICE in recent years:

2012 -- 147
2013 -- 119
2014 -- 96
2015 -- 50
2016 -- 56
2017 -- 105
2018 -- 121
2019 -- 89
2020 -- 35
2021 -- 11
2022 -- 12
2023 -- 33
2024 -- 43
2025 -- 47 (through October 31)

The overwhelming majority were in jail after being arrested for serious crimes. In 2022, 10 of the 12 had been arrested for felonies and eight of those were for violent felonies. A complete list of charges for 2022 is available upon request.