Lawmaker pushes for transparency over ICE raids in Chesterfield

Concerns are growing at the Chesterfield County Court Complex after ICE agents detained more than a dozen people over the course of two months.

“These are folks who want to get marriage licenses, they want to come in become a notary, pay their fines, whatever it is, and they’re still scared. Even U.S. citizens are scared to come to court right now,” Amanda Pohl, Chesterfield County Circuit Court Clerk, said.

Immigration authorities targeted people as they showed up at the courthouse in June and July.

ICE agents have detained at least 14 people so far.

We are told that all were defendants making court appearances in the county’s General District Court for a variety of both misdemeanor and felony offenses.

“My biggest concern is that we are getting calls from constituents and individuals who are worried, scared, asking should they come to the courthouse,” Pohl said.

The court clerk asked Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan to attend a meeting over the concerns.

After the meeting, McClellan called the actions of ICE agents unAmerican and called for due process and transparency.

“But what we are seeing is racial profiling where if you are brown, if you speak Spanish, or another language and you don’t look like you came off the boat, The Mayflower, you are fair game,” Rep. Jennifer McClellan, (D) VA-04, said.

McClellan also penned a letter demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security.

In the letter she asks a number of questions including, how many people detained are still in DHS custody, where have they been moved, and is DHS taking steps to allow lawyers to come in?

Meanwhile, state Republicans have largely welcomed the attention from ICE and some 2,500 arrests so far.

That includes Governor Glenn Youngkin who praised the efforts earlier this month.