Covering Annandale, Bailey's Crossroads, Lincolnia, and Seven Corners in Fairfax County, Virginia

Immigrant rights groups respond to mass deportation threat

Facing the threat of mass deportations, local immigrant rights groups are stepping up their rapid response activities to protect vulnerable community members. President-Elect Trump’s threat to deport millions of people, including those with legal status, is causing fear among Northern Virginia’s immigrant communities. People are afraid to enroll their children in school or go the … Continued

More than 3 percent of all Mason District residents are in deportation proceedings

The Immigration Court at 1901 S. Bell St. in Crystal City handles deportation, asylum, and related cases from all over Virginia. [A. Baros/VOA] In Mason District, 3.6 percent of the total population are in deportation proceedings.  That number reflects the huge backlog of deportation cases in Virginia, as well as the large immigrant population in … Continued

Afghan refugee challenges Rep. Connolly in Democratic primary

Congressional candidate Zainab Mohsini (right) with volunteers (from the left) Billy Bates, Will McLauchlin, and Jackson Anderson. Campaigning during a pandemic is so much more challenging, says congressional candidate Zainab Mohsini. It’s especially difficult for a political neophyte and progressive like Mohsini, an immigrant from Afghanistan, who’s up against the well-known and well-funded Rep. Gerry … Continued

Fewer immigrants applying for childcare

Story time at the CDC. Fewer immigrant families are enrolling their children in the Child Development Center (CDC) operated by the Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA) as a result of the climate of fear created by the Trump Administration’s anti-immigrant policies. In addition to the high-profile ICE raids and stepped-up deportation actions, the Administration’s … Continued

Kaine and Stewart clash over Trump, Kavanagh, immigration, and much more

Corey Stewart (left) and Sen. Tim Kaine face off in a debate. [WAMU] When Corey Stewart, the Republican challenging Sen. Tim Kaine in the Nov.  6 election, blasted Kaine for “voting against everything Trump proposed” at a Sept. 26 debate, that line got some applause. “If the president proposes things that are bad, sure I’ll … Continued

Sheriff terminates agreement with ICE

The Adult Detention Center. Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid announced Jan. 23 that the Sheriff’s Office will terminate its intergovernmental service agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). That means the Sheriff’s Office will no longer hold people in the Adult Detention Center past their release date unless an ICE administrative request to detain … Continued

Two local “Dreamers” file suit against abrupt change in federal immigration policy

These advocates with the Annandale-based National Korean American Service & Education Consortium urge Congress to extend the Dream Act to protect immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children. [NAKASEC] Nurimaro Park of Fairfax and Jonathan Alvarenga Recinos of Alexandria suddenly lost their status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, when the … Continued

Candidates for statewide office divided on healthcare

Northam The candidates for statewide office in Virginia present a stark contrast in how they would deal with healthcare and the economy. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor outlined their positions at a forum Oct. 2 in Tysons hosted by the Asian American Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Northern Virginia … Continued