Arlington Officials Urge 911 Calls for ICE Sightings

Advice contradicts former officer's recommendation against using emergency line

Jan. 30, 2026 at 9:15pm

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The Arlington County Board is encouraging residents to call 911 if they spot U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in their neighborhoods, despite a former police officer's warning against using the emergency line for such purposes.

Why it matters

This policy decision by Arlington officials highlights the ongoing tensions and debates around immigration enforcement, with local governments sometimes taking steps to limit cooperation with federal agencies like ICE.

The details

The Arlington County Board's directive to call 911 for ICE sightings contradicts the advice of a former police officer, who has cautioned against using the emergency line in such situations. The board's stance reflects an effort to limit local involvement in federal immigration enforcement actions.

  • The Arlington County Board issued the 911 call directive on January 31, 2026.

The players

Arlington County Board

The governing body of Arlington County, Virginia, which has taken a stance against cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws, which has faced resistance from some local governments.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

This policy decision by Arlington officials reflects the ongoing tensions between local governments and federal immigration enforcement, with some localities taking steps to limit cooperation with agencies like ICE.