Harrisonburg Leaders Discuss Immigration Concerns at Roundtable

Mayor Deanna Reed hosts discussion with Congressional candidate Beth Macy on ICE tactics and community fears

Apr. 8, 2026 at 3:50am

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A solitary figure stands alone in a dimly lit government building hallway, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conceptually representing the challenges faced by local leaders in addressing the community impact of federal immigration policies.Local leaders gather to discuss the impact of federal immigration enforcement on their community, seeking solutions to address the climate of fear.Harrisonburg Today

In Harrisonburg, Virginia, Mayor Deanna Reed hosted a roundtable discussion on immigration issues with local leaders and Democratic Congressional candidate Beth Macy. The conversation focused on the fear many immigrants in the city feel about being detained and deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has been a major concern for the community.

Why it matters

As a city with a large immigrant population, Harrisonburg's leaders are grappling with how to address the climate of fear and distrust towards law enforcement that has arisen due to aggressive ICE tactics. This roundtable provided an opportunity for open dialogue and the chance to explore solutions that could have an impact both locally and nationally.

The details

The roundtable included representatives from organizations like New Bridges, Church World Service, and Skyline Literacy, as well as Harrisonburg Police Captain Jason Kidd. Kidd expressed concern that the fear of ICE is preventing immigrants from reporting crimes, which undermines public safety. Macy, who is running for Congress, said she has been holding listening sessions in the district to better understand the challenges faced by immigrant communities.

  • The roundtable discussion took place on April 8, 2026.

The players

Deanna Reed

The mayor of Harrisonburg, Virginia, who hosted the immigration roundtable.

Beth Macy

The Democratic candidate for the 6th Congressional District of Virginia, who attended the roundtable to listen to the concerns of local leaders.

Jason Kidd

A captain in the Harrisonburg Police Department, who spoke about the fear among immigrants that is preventing them from reporting crimes.

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What they’re saying

“No one benefits from fear and when people are afraid, my biggest concern is that they won't report crime.”

— Jason Kidd, Harrisonburg Police Captain

“We can do this and I think we've got some great examples and some great leaders here around the table.”

— Beth Macy, Democratic Congressional Candidate

What’s next

Macy said she plans to continue holding listening sessions throughout the district to better understand the challenges faced by immigrant communities, with the goal of taking those insights back to Congress to push for policy changes.

The takeaway

This roundtable discussion highlights the ongoing struggle that cities with large immigrant populations, like Harrisonburg, face in balancing public safety, community trust, and the need for federal immigration reform. Local leaders are working to find solutions that address the fear and distrust caused by aggressive ICE tactics, which are having a detrimental impact on their communities.