A US House Judiciary Committee interim report has criticised Arlington County, Virginia, over sanctuary policies that limit cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities. The county’s Republican Party chair says officials are putting undocumented immigrants ahead of residents’ safety, while the report argues the policies could hinder the detention of undocumented people accused of serious crimes.

The 23-page report cites Arlington’s May 2025 Trust Policy, which bars police from initiating contact with federal immigration authorities even when an undocumented person is identified as a violent felon, gang member, human trafficker or terrorist. It also refers to a deposition in which Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti acknowledged that immigration status may be considered in case outcomes and defended guidance encouraging prosecutors to consider alternatives when DACA recipients face charges that could lead to deportation. Dehghani-Tafti called the report a politically motivated “sham”, accused the committee of misrepresenting her policies and testimony, and demanded the release of her full deposition transcript.