Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are inside the Chesterfield County Courthouse detaining individuals who are appearing for offenses unrelated to their immigration status.
Chesterfield’s Sheriff Karl Leonard confirmed to Virginia Scope that ICE agents detained six people inside the courthouse on Friday, another six on Monday, and two on Tuesday.
An attorney who works in the Central Virginia region confirmed to Radio IQ’s Brad Kutner that one of his clients was detained by ICE in Chesterfield’s Courthouse after appearing for a hearing for a charge unrelated to immigration.
At the courthouse on Tuesday morning, individuals who witnesses identified as ICE agents told Virginia Scope they cannot talk to the press and declined to confirm or deny if they are ICE agents.
Sources with knowledge of the situation say that the individuals were detained after their hearings when they entered through a separate door to pay their fines, away from where the public or media can witness.
The ICE agents, then, allegedly approached the individuals and detained them, according to sources. They did not take the detained individuals through the front door, but instead, they allegedly left through a side door.
Outside the courthouse, Virginia Scope and Radio IQ witnessed an SUV back into a covered area guarded by deputies. Minutes later, the SUV pulled out of the fenced area and drove out of the courthouse parking lot.
The driver of the vehicle waved to reporters as he left.
The Richmond-area ICE office has an outgoing message saying they are closed, despite their hours indicating they are open.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin applauded the actions taking place during a conversation with the press Tuesday.
“We have a statewide collaboration and partnership between state police and ICE and the FBI and DEA working to make sure that violent criminals who are here illegally are arrested. And so the fact that there have been some arrests at the Chesterfield County Courthouse makes sense,” Youngkin said.
“They clearly have been arrested, they clearly are here illegally, and therefore that’s part of our statewide effort,” he continued. “We’ve been working with counties constructively, and I appreciate Chesterfield County working with our statewide task force to make sure that we’re going to be able to keep Virginians safe.”
Youngkin stated that the statewide efforts have resulted in 2,000 immigration-related arrests.
“We’re getting really tough bad guys off the street,” he said.
Attorney General Jason Miyares also commended the actions taken by ICE.
“These are overwhelmingly individuals [who fall into] one of two categories,” Miyares said. “One, they’re here illegally, they’ve committed violent felonies. Or two, I would remind my friends in the press, there are 1.4 million illegal immigrants that have already had a deportation hearing. In other words, they’ve already been in front of a judge. A judge already heard their case, adjudicated the case and said, you can’t stay in this country.”
Miyares also blamed the former President Joe Biden for failing to enforce rulings in immigration cases.
“So what you’re seeing overwhelmingly are people that have already had their day in court, they’re either a violent criminal or they’ve already had their day in court and they’ve been ordered to be deported,” Miyares continued. “So I have a strong suspicion that’s what’s happening in Chesterfield.”
Del. Mike Jones, D-Richmond, who represents part of Chesterfield, called the actions from ICE a “travesty.”
He said it is inhumane to arrest people who are showing up to the courthouse to handle personal business. “I think it’s just against basic human rights,” Jones said.
Jones also called for a halt to immigration enforcement operations at courthouses and for the sites to be designated as “sensitive locations.”
“The courthouse stands as hallowed ground within our constitutional republic—a sanctuary where justice is sought, where due process manifests, where the rights of the individual are to be zealously protected against the awesome power of the state,” Jones said.
State Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Chesterfield, said ICE is doing “great work.”
“It’s a good reminder to illegal aliens that this is the alternative to self-deportation,” Sturtevant said. “In our compassion and generosity, the American people will even pay for your plane tickets so everybody can stay together and travel back to your home country in comfort.”
Del. Mark Earley, R-Chesterfield, a defense attorney, said keeping Chesterfield streets safe is a top priority for him, but ensuring due process is also a key concern.
“That includes supporting lawful cooperation between our local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities,” Earley said. “As a defense attorney, I also believe strongly in due process and fair treatment under the law. I’ve been in contact with our Sheriff, and at this time, operations appear orderly and safe.”
State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, who is the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, did not respond to a request for comment.
Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Chesterfield, who is running in a highly competitive race this November, did not respond to a request for comment.
Del. Mike Cherry, R-Colonial Heights, who also represents parts of Chesterfield, declined to comment.