Loudoun Sheriff Issues Letter Clarifying ICE Cooperation Practices

Loudoun County is governed by a nine-member Board of Supervisors that includes Chair At-Large Phyllis Randall, Vice Chair Michael Turner of the Ashburn District, Juli Briskman of the Algonkian District, Sylvia Glass of the Broad Run District, Caleb Kershner of the Catoctin District, Matthew Letourneau of the Dulles District, Kristen Umstattd of the Leesburg District, Laura TeKrony of the Little River District, and Koran Saines of the Sterling District.

Sheriff Mike Chapman of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office sent a letter to the Board of Supervisors on September 15, 2026, addressing questions about the agency's relationship with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The letter responds to a board member initiative scheduled for discussion at the day's business meeting. Chapman states that the office has maintained consistent practices with federal partners.

The communication outlines that the sheriff's office does not perform field enforcement operations with or on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Chapman describes any claims suggesting otherwise as inaccurate. The letter details the scope of cooperation which applies only to individuals already in custody at the county adult detention center.

Details of Detention Center Collaboration

Cooperation occurs solely for persons held on criminal charges unrelated to immigration status who are nearing release. A 287g Warrant Service Office program formalizes this longstanding practice and permits detention for up to 48 hours if needed for federal transfer. The program has operated for the past year.

Deputies do not inquire about immigration status during traffic stops or other encounters. The office also does not extend detentions based on immigration detainers alone. Routine database checks through national systems occur as standard procedure to assess potential risks during contacts.

Scope of Notifications and Operational Statistics

When Immigration and Customs Enforcement entries appear in databases the office provides telephonic notification as a courtesy when encounters occur. This constitutes notice rather than enforcement action. In a 16-month period ending July 2026 the office recorded 13 such notifications and none led to immigration custody.

The same period saw 233,613 documented calls for service and contacts including 49,834 traffic stops. Chapman notes that the office honors requests for information from all partner agencies while focusing on criminal matters.

Response to Board Meeting Agenda

Chapman requests that the letter be entered into the record at the board meeting. The sheriff declines to appear in person citing concerns about the format of the discussion. The letter affirms openness to private meetings with board members on public safety topics.

The communication reiterates the value placed on community trust and the determination to counter misinformation that could affect operations. Practices described remain consistent across different federal administrations.

https://www.loudoun.gov/m/NewsFlash/home/detail/10865

Email the Board of Supervisors at:
Phyllis J. Randall (Chair, At-Large) – Phyllis.Randall@loudoun.gov,
Michael R. Turner (Vice Chair, Ashburn District) – Mike.Turner@loudoun.gov,
Juli E. Briskman (Algonkian District) – Juli.Briskman@loudoun.gov,
Sylvia R. Glass (Broad Run District) – Sylvia.Glass@loudoun.gov,
Caleb Kershner (Catoctin District) – caleb.kershner@loudoun.gov,
Matthew F. Letourneau (Dulles District) – Matt.Letourneau@loudoun.gov,
Kristen C. Umstattd (Leesburg District) – Kristen.Umstattd@loudoun.gov,
Laura A. TeKrony (Little River District) – Laura.TeKrony@loudoun.gov,
Koran Saines (Sterling District) – Koran.Saines@loudoun.gov

Email the Loudoun County School Board:
April Chandler, april.chandler@lcps.org,
Anne Donohue, anne.donohue@lcps.org,
Deana Griffiths, deana.griffiths@lcps.org,
Ross Svenson, ross.stevenson@lcps.org,
Kari LaBell, kari.labell@lcps.org,
Jon Pepper, jonathon.pepper@lcps.org,
Lauren Shernoff, lauren.shernoff@lcps.org,
Sumera Rashid, sumera.rashid@lcps.org,
Amy Riccardi, amy.riccardi@lcps.org,