Fairfax Co. prosecutor, sheriff to testify on Capitol Hill whether preferential treatment given to defendants in US illegally

Are Fairfax County, Virginia’s high prosecutor and sheriff giving preferential treatment to defendants who’re in the United States illegally? That would be the focus of a Capitol Hill listening to Thursday.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano and Sheriff Stacey Kincaid might be testifying earlier than the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security and Enforcement, as will Cheryl Minter, whose daughter Stephanie was killed in Februaryat a bus cease alongside Route 1 in Hybla Valley.

Abdul Jalloh, a 32-year-old immigrant from Sierra Leone will stand trial for Minter’s homicide.

Earlier this month, the US Department of Justice started an investigation of Descano.

in a letter to DescanoAssistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon informed the DOJ is investigating whether his workplace violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Safe Streets Act, which each “prohibit recipients of Federal financial assistance from discriminating based upon race, color, or national origin.”

Jalloh has a protracted historical past of being arrested and launched. Most lately, he was free on his personal recognizance after being arrested for malicious wounding in 2025.

In written remarks, forward of the listening to, Descano stated, “The system failed Ms. Minter, and we should all look for ways we can prevent tragedies like this in the future.”

The coverage in query was adopted by Descano’s workplace in 2020 as a part of its pointers for plea bargaining. It instructs assistant Commonwealth’s attorneys to “consider immigration consequences where possible” and states that “prosecutors shall consider … the collateral immigration consequences of the specific crime(s) the defendant is charged with.”

The webpage detailing the coverage is not publicly out there on his workplace’s web site.

Descano and Kincaid might be requested in regards to the county’s insurance policies relating to not aiding US Immigration and Customs Enforcement with federal civil immigration enforcement.

After the launch of the Justice Department investigation, Descano stated his insurance policies mirror the group he serves, in which “three in ten residents of Fairfax County are immigrants.”

“When crimes occur, we need victims and witnesses, including members of our immigrant communities, to report those crimes and come to court to testify,” in accordance to Descano’s written feedback earlier than Thursday’s listening to.

“If victims and witnesses believe my office will report them or their neighbors to ICE, they will not trust us and they will not provide the testimony we need to obtain convictions and get justice.”

Cheryl Minter has stated if Jalloh had been prosecuted earlier, her daughter would nonetheless be alive. She is hopeful the listening to will immediate adjustments and is working with teams making an attempt to take away Descano from workplace.

“The defendant was well known by ICE as early as 2018, when ICE held him in custody for nearly two years during the first Trump administration, only to release him into the community,” in accordance to Descano.

“Let me be absolutely clear. My office does not provide sanctuary or safe harbor to undocumented immigrants,” in accordance to Descano’s written remarks. “We routinely prosecute immigrants who commit crimes and we will continue to do so.”

Also scheduled to testify are former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, and Sean Kennedy, member of the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Advisory Board, and president of Virginians for Safe Communities. Both have been vocal critics of Descano.

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