A national border security advocacy organization is calling out Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger following the stabbing death of a Fairfax County woman, arguing that so-called “sanctuary” policies put public safety at risk.
The American Border Story (TABS) issued a sharp rebuke of the governor after Stephanie Minter was fatally stabbed Sunday at a bus stop in Fairfax County. According to law enforcement reports, the suspect — identified by authorities as Abdul Jallo — is an illegal immigrant who had accumulated more than 30 prior arrests and had been charged multiple times in recent years with malicious wounding.
TABS alleges that despite what it describes as a “staggering criminal record,” the suspect was repeatedly released and not turned over to federal immigration authorities.
“Governor Spanberger’s catch-and-release approach allowed a dangerous repeat offender to remain on the streets, and an innocent woman lost her life as a result,” the organization said in a statement. “This tragedy was preventable.”
At the center of the controversy are policies limiting cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Critics argue such policies prevent authorities from detaining and transferring illegal immigrants with criminal histories to federal custody for deportation.
Supporters of cooperation with ICE say violent offenders should be prioritized for removal, especially when they are unlawfully present in the country.
“When elected officials restrict law enforcement from cooperating fully with federal immigration authorities, violent criminals remain in our communities and law-abiding citizens suffer the consequences,” TABS said.
Spanberger has previously supported policies that immigration advocates describe as building trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement. Those policies typically limit honoring ICE detainer requests without judicial warrants and discourage local police from acting as federal immigration agents.
However, border security advocates argue that such limits create loopholes that allow repeat offenders to cycle back onto the streets.
The American Border Story is now calling on the governor to end sanctuary-style policies and restore full cooperation with ICE.
“Deporting violent criminals who are in this country unlawfully is a basic responsibility of any government committed to public safety and justice,” the group said. “Virginia cannot afford another preventable tragedy caused by policies that place illegal immigrants with violent records ahead of innocent victims.”
The case is likely to intensify an already heated national debate over immigration enforcement and the role of state and local governments in cooperating with federal authorities.
