Immigration arrests have been occurring throughout the country, most recently in the Town of Orange.
Early last Friday, agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the FBI conducted a federal immigration enforcement operation near Porterfield Park, stopping and raiding a dark colored four-door Nissan. The vehicle could still be seen on the side of the road hours later with a busted passenger side window. It has since been picked up.
According to Orange Police Chief Rebecca Nelson, her office was not notified prior, during or immediately following the operation. Town police discovered the vehicle after responding to a citizen report.
Nelson said via a written statement that while federal agencies aren’t legally required to notify local jurisdictions of their operations, “standard professional courtesy” dictates local notification. She said this ensures community safety and prevents dangerous misinformation between agencies.
“It is fortunate that this unannounced operation did not escalate into a situation that endangered nearby residents or motorists,” Nelson said.
Orange County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Sgt. Adam Schienschang said they too were not notified of the operation. He said social media reports that the two individuals arrested were brought back to the sheriff’s office are false.
“We were not involved in it in any way,” Schienschang said.
Both the town and county police departments do not have a formal relationship with federal immigration authorities. Nelson said historically, immigration actions have occurred at the Central Virginia Regional Jail post-arrest.
There has been no federal confirmation as to who the individual was that agents apprehended. According to reporting by Byrd Street, the suspect was under a red notice. A red notice is an international alert for a fugitive wanted either for prosecution or to serve a sentence. According to Interpol, red notice fugitives are in relation to serious ordinary law crimes such as murder, rape and fraud.
Earlier this week, an ICE official confirmed that a June 23 immigration enforcement operation in Greene County resulted in 49 arrests. Those individuals were transported to ICE facilities.
