A pair of detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at separate locations in Alexandria this week has prompted outcry from immigrant rights advocates and raised questions about local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Allegations of masked agents, early-morning arrests
Community activists with the group ICE Out of Alexandria reported that at about 10:20 a.m. Monday two men were removed from a work truck while it was parked at a 7-Eleven on West Glebe Road. According to the group's account, masked agents took the men, who left belongings and an uneaten meal in the vehicle, and transported them in a black SUV with tinted windows.
The organization also said that four people were detained earlier Saturday morning off Florence Drive in the Chirilagua neighborhood, near the Braddock Road corridor. Those arrests were reported to have occurred at approximately 6 a.m.
Concerns over conditions at transfer facility
ICE Out of Alexandria said some of the detained individuals may be sent to the Farmville Detention Center in central Virginia. The facility is operated by CoreCivic, a private corrections contractor, and the group cited complaints from people inside the center about living conditions.
"rotten food, a lack of air conditioning and medical neglect throughout the summer,"
Those allegations echo reports from human rights and immigrant advocacy organizations that have criticized the Farmville center for conditions they say fall short of accepted standards. CoreCivic and ICE did not immediately provide comment in response to an inquiry about the recent local detentions.
Calls for policy changes and local action
ICE Out of Alexandria urged state and local officials to take several steps in response to the arrests, including:
- Passing state legislation to render ICE administrative warrants illegitimate;
- Asking the governor to prohibit warrantless collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration agents;
- Pressuring congressional representatives to advocate for the closure of for-profit detention centers such as Farmville;
- Requesting that the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office end any cooperation with ICE.
On the question of local cooperation, the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office said it does not cooperate with ICE and that it transfers detainees to federal authorities only when complying with applicable law. The office did not provide additional details about recent transfers or whether any of the people taken this week were moved through local facilities.
Community impact and next steps
Immigrant advocates in Alexandria say the detentions have heightened anxiety within neighborhoods with large immigrant populations, especially in areas such as Chirilagua where early-morning arrests were reported. Local organizers are planning outreach to affected families and are encouraging residents to document interactions with federal agents and to seek legal assistance.
Public records and direct statements from ICE or CoreCivic about the specific incidents were not available at the time of publication. The Farmville facility has drawn criticism in recent years for conditions cited by detainees and advocacy groups, while CoreCivic has maintained that it meets contractual obligations for detainee care.
| Reported incidents | Location | Approximate time |
|---|---|---|
| Two men removed from work truck | 7-Eleven, West Glebe Road | About 10:20 a.m. Monday |
| Four people detained from apartment building | Florence Drive (Chirilagua) | About 6 a.m. Saturday |
Advocates called on residents to monitor developments and to contact local elected officials to press for transparency about how and when federal immigration enforcement operates in Alexandria. They also encouraged anyone with information about the detentions to come forward to community groups assisting detainees and their families.
WE NEWS will continue reporting on developments and any official responses from ICE, CoreCivic, the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office, and local elected leaders.
