Warner Pushes Trump Administration on Alarming Immigration Arrest of U.S. Citizen and Virginia Resident

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) wrote to leadership at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding their enforcement practices, specifically highlighting a March 5thincident where a U.S. citizen and Virginia resident was stopped and interrogated by ICE. The individual reports that he made multiple attempts to prove his citizenship, but despite these efforts, was handcuffed and questioned about his immigration status.
In an interview with local media, the citizenprovided details of his arrest, claiming that officers, who were looking for a different individual with a deportation order, rebuffed multiple attempts to provide identification and despite being told he was a U.S. citizen, continued to question his immigration status.
“All Virginians, regardless of their citizenship or immigration status, deserve to be treated with respect and must be properly afforded their rights as expressed in the U.S. Constitution. Any law enforcement performing immigration enforcement must abide by the U.S. Constitution and federal law. When ICE agents violate or create the appearance of a violating the rights of their fellow citizens, it does harm to all Virginians and all Americans,”Sen. Warner wrote.
He continued,“Undisciplined, hostile, or threatening enforcement actions by ICE will hinder relationships with local communities, further compromising trust and safety and risk potentially degrading ICE’s enforcement efforts and officer safety. Given DHS’ recent emphasis on the safety of its law enforcement agents, particularly ICE, I expect you share my concern for the risks to Virginians and law enforcement alike created by a perception of capricious or unjustified action taken against U.S. citizens.”
In the letter, Sen. Warner requested clarity on ICE enforcement methods in Virginia, and a detailed account of the March 5tharrest:
A copy of letter is availablehereand text is below.
Dear Secretary Noem, Mr. Homan, Acting Director Lyons, and Director Hott:
I write to you regarding ICE’s recent enforcement efforts, and, in particular, the alarming treatment of a U.S. citizen and Virginia resident whom ICE stopped and interrogated in Manassas, Virginia on March 5, 2025.
In an interview with NBC4 Washington, a U.S. citizen described that he was driving to work when ICE agents stopped and surrounded his truck, exited their vehicles with their weapons drawn and ordered him to “turn off the car, give [them] the keys, open the window.” When the agents shared the name of the individual that ICE was seeking for deportation orders, the U.S. citizen responded that was not him and sought to verify his identify by offering to show his Real ID-compliant driver’s license. As you are aware, proof of legal presence is required to obtain a Real ID-compliant driver’s license. The U.S. citizen’s attempts to prove his U.S. citizenship were refused and ICE agents demanded he exit his vehicle and placed him in handcuffs. While handcuffed, the U.S. citizen reports that he was interrogated by the ICE agents on his entry to the U.S. and if he was awaiting any court orders. The U.S. citizen continued to attempt to his prove his U.S. citizenship, and in response, he reported that one of the ICE agents communicated doubt as to his U.S. citizenship despite his efforts to prove otherwise. The ICE agents released this U.S. citizen only after they permitted him to show his Real ID-compliant driver’s license.
I recognize the important work of federal, state, and local law enforcement in keeping Virginians safe and understand that law enforcement, including ICE agents, in the field have a complex and challenging job. It is because of that concern for both officer and Virginian safety that I express deep concern over the apprehension and treatment of this U.S. citizen and the disturbing potential or perception of what this treatment may indicate about ICE’s law enforcement practices in Virginia.
All Virginians, regardless of their citizenship or immigration status, deserve to be treated with respect and must be properly afforded their rights as expressed in the U.S. Constitution. Any law enforcement performing immigration enforcement must abide by the U.S. Constitution and federal law. When ICE agents violate or create the appearance of a violating the rights of their fellow citizens, it does harm to all Virginians and all Americans.
Undisciplined, hostile, or threatening enforcement actions by ICE will hinder relationships with local communities, further compromising trust and safety and risk potentially degrading ICE’s enforcement efforts and officer safety. Given DHS’ recent emphasis on the safety of its law enforcement agents, particularly ICE, I expect you share my concern for the risks to Virginians and law enforcement alike created by a perception of capricious or unjustified action taken against U.S. citizens.
U.S. citizens interacting with ICE who seek to prove their identity with identification or other documents that would assist ICE in determining their identity and immigration status should be permitted to do so. In this case, it is clear that the ICE agents misidentified this U.S. citizen, wasting valuable time and resources, and damaging ICE’s public image in the process.
To better understand the circumstances surrounding ICE’s immigration enforcement efforts in Virginia, I ask that you respond to these questions by no later than Friday, April 4, 2025.
Additionally, I respectfully request that the appropriate individuals in your agencies provide a briefing on the events surrounding the U.S. citizen’s encounter with ICE, including the sharing of information that may be law enforcement sensitive.
It is my hope that ICE can carry out its mission while upholding the rights of all Virginians and abiding by the U.S. Constitution. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
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