Virginia LULAC Congratulates Arlington County on Enactment of Strengthened Trust Policy
- Virginia LULAC
- 16 hours ago
- 4 min read
ARLINGTON, VA — Virginia LULAC applauds and congratulate the Arlington County Board for unanimously strengthening Arlington's Trust Policy, reaffirming the County's commitment to protecting immigrant families, strengthening public trust, and ensuring that every resident can engage with local government and access essential services without unnecessary fear.
On May 13, 2025, the Arlington County Board voted unanimously, 5-0, to strengthen "Arlington's Commitment to Strengthening Trust with Our Immigrant Communities." The action removed provisions that had previously outlined circumstances in which the Arlington County Police Department could proactively initiate contact with federal immigration authorities following certain arrests.
For Virginia LULAC and all Latinos in Arlington, this was an important and meaningful step forward.
Arlington's Trust Policy is particularly significant in a community as diverse as ours. More than 1 in 5 Arlington residents are immigrants, with the U.S. Census Bureau estimating more than 53,000 foreign-born residents living in the County. Latinos represent 16.3% of Arlington's population, and nearly 18,000+ of Arlington's immigrant residents were born in Latin America.
These are our neighbors, families, workers, business owners, students, teachers, first responders, community leaders, and friends. They are an integral part of Arlington and its future.
Trust Is Public Safety
The County Board recognized a fundamental public safety concern when strengthening this policy: when residents become afraid to call 911, report a crime, cooperate with law enforcement, or seek assistance from their local government, the entire community becomes less safe.
The strengthened Trust Policy draws a clearer line between local public safety and federal civil immigration enforcement. Arlington will continue to comply with applicable federal and state law and lawful judicial requirements. At the same time, the policy reinforces the principle that enforcement of federal immigration law is a responsibility of the federal government, not the mission of Arlington County's local government or police department.
The policy prohibits Arlington police officers from detaining or arresting an individual solely on the basis of a federal administrative or civil immigration warrant or detainer. It also limits the use of County resources for civil immigration enforcement and protects residents' access to County services.
A victim of a crime should never have to weigh whether calling 911 could place themselves or their family at risk. A witness should not be afraid to cooperate with police. A parent should not hesitate to seek assistance from Human Services. A resident should not be afraid to visit a library, park, health facility, or other County service because of their immigration status.
Community policing depends upon community trust.
Accountability to the People of Arlington
This policy is also significant because it establishes accountability within Arlington County government.
The County Board directs the County Manager to ensure that Arlington County departments and agencies comply with the Trust Policy. Alleged violations must be investigated and tracked, with investigative findings reported to the County Manager and subsequently provided to the County Board. The Arlington County Police Department must also notify the County Manager before implementing substantive changes to its immigration-related directive.
That accountability matters.
Our local government and law enforcement exist to serve the people of Arlington. Through this policy, the elected County Board has made clear that Arlington's policies should reflect the values and public safety needs of the community it represents.
Thank You to the Arlington County Board
Virginia LULAC and Arlington LULAC extend our sincere appreciation to every member of the Arlington County Board who came together and voted unanimously to strengthen this policy.
Virginia LULAC and Arlington LULAC extend our sincere appreciation to Chair Takis Karantonis, Vice Chair Matt de Ferranti, Board Member Maureen Coffey, Board Member Susan Cunningham, and Board Member Julius D. "JD" Spain, Sr. for coming together unanimously to strengthen Arlington's Trust Policy.
We thank Chair Karantonis for bringing the revisions forward, Member JD Spain for seconding the motion, and every member of the Board for voting in support. We also recognize the Board members who spoke about the importance of rebuilding trust, protecting public safety, ensuring residents are not afraid to call 911 or seek County services, protecting due process, and maintaining the important distinction between local public safety and federal immigration enforcement. Their unanimous action sent a powerful message to Arlington's immigrant families: you are part of this community, your safety matters, and you belong here.
Five Board members, five affirmative votes, and one clear message: Arlington is committed to being a community where everyone belongs.
A Community for All of Us
"This is what leadership looks like at the local level. Arlington County recognized that when members of our immigrant community become afraid to call 911, report a crime, cooperate with law enforcement, or seek help from their local government, all of Arlington becomes less safe. Public safety and trust go hand in hand. We thank the Arlington County Board for listening to immigrant families and advocates and for taking meaningful action to ensure that our local government remains focused on serving and protecting everyone who calls Arlington home," said Christopher Concepcion, Virginia LULAC State Director and Arlington resident.
"The Arlington County Board has made clear where Arlington stands. We stand with all Arlingtonians. Everyone who calls Arlington home has a place here, belongs here, and deserves to feel safe engaging with their local government. Our immigrant neighbors are not strangers to this community. They are part of this community. They are Arlingtonians."
Virginia LULAC and Arlington LULAC recognize that adopting a strong policy is an important step, but its strength ultimately depends on implementation, accountability, transparency, and continued engagement with the communities it is intended to protect.
We look forward to continuing to work with Arlington County, the County Board, community organizations, law enforcement, and immigrant families to ensure these protections are understood, implemented, and upheld throughout County government.
Today, we celebrate this important action. We thank Takis Karantonis, Matt de Ferranti, Maureen Coffey, Susan Cunningham, and Julius D. "JD" Spain, Sr. individually and collectively for their leadership and their unanimous vote.
With this action, the Arlington County Board has reaffirmed a fundamental principle that Virginia LULAC and Arlington LULAC proudly share:
Every Arlingtonian deserves dignity. Every Arlingtonian deserves to feel safe. Every Arlingtonian belongs. Arlington is a community for all of us.
Virginia LULAC
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About Virginia LULAC
Virginia LULAC is the state chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation’s oldest and largest Latino civil rights advocacy organization. Our mission is to advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, housing, and civil rights of Hispanic Americans in the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond.
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