by Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury
June 27, 2025

Jessica Schneider, a member of Chesterfield County’s Board of Supervisors, was about to address a growing crowd of people protesting area immigration raids outside the Chesterfield County Courthouse Wednesday morning when her phone buzzed with news that visibly shook her.

Another immigrant, Salvador Calderon-Cuella — whose immigration status remains unclear at this time — had just been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and quietly whisked away through the courthouse’s back entrance.

Calderon-Cuellar had pleaded guilty in April to two misdemeanor traffic offenses — driving without a license and failing to yield when entering a highway. The fines totaled $130, according to Chesterfield General District Court records. On Wednesday, he arrived at the court to make the payment.

“As we are just here, someone was being taken out the back,” said Schneider, her voice cracking during an interview with The Mercury. 

“He had no prior arrests. Can you tell me that that is a violent criminal person that should be detained? This is a person that is here, working in our communities, and why are we punishing him?” Schneider said. 

Since Friday, at least 14 immigrants had been arrested by ICE agents in and around the courthouse, according to reporting by Virginia Scope and other local media outlets. The arrests occurred over the course of several days, many following minor court appearances like Calderon-Cuellar’s. Immigration advocates say some of those arrested had no criminal convictions at all. 

The rash of immigrant arrests in Chesterfield comes as President Donald Trump’s administration has bolstered federal efforts to detain and deport undocumented immigrants, actions Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares have pledged to support. 

Schneider sees the sweep as part of a broader, politically charged campaign by the president and his allies.

“Trump says he wants to get rid of violent criminals and gang members,” she said in the interview. “But that’s not what’s happening now. This is just all about the cruelty and the racism. To purify our country is what I believe they’re trying to do.”

She grew more emotional as she reflected on her husband’s family history in Germany.

“We’ve been through this. We know what happens when people start to say that we’re better than them, and that we have to get rid of those people. And if we turn a blind eye, look at what happened then,” she said, holding back tears. “We need to stand up for our immigrant friends, neighborhood members and community members.”

The arrests, which are also happening in many other parts of Virginia, come amid growing concern about the ripple effects of stepped-up ICE activity in the state. 

A recent study by the Commonwealth Institute and the Immigration Research Initiative warned that mass detentions of undocumented immigrants not only fracture families but could damage Virginia’s economy.

According to the report, released on Tuesday, undocumented immigrants are central to several key industries. Immigrants, both undocumented and documented, make up 28% of child care workers, 25% of construction workers, and 25% of cooks. Deporting just 10% of this population would result in a $69 million annual loss in state and local tax revenue — not to mention labor shortages and rising consumer costs, the study found.

“Forcibly removing community members en masse rips the fabric of our communities, erodes trust in law enforcement, and is costly for all of us,” said Freddy Mejia, policy director at the Commonwealth Institute and a co-author of the report.

Shamier Settle, a senior analyst with the Immigration Research Initiative and co-author, warned that deportations don’t only harm undocumented families. 

“Our economy is not a zero-sum game — when immigrants are deported the number of jobs for U.S.-born workers declines.”

The courthouse arrests have also rattled local officials, even those with no formal oversight of immigration enforcement.

Amanda Pohl, chief clerk of the Chesterfield County Circuit Court, told The Mercury she only learned of the ICE presence after the first arrests occurred. While her office does not control operations in the General District Court — where many of the detentions happened — she immediately began reviewing policy with her staff.

“They’ve been in plain clothes, and so I don’t actually have an accounting of how long they were here, who was here, and how many were here,” she said of the federal agents. “Since I’ve been here, we do not call ICE on anyone, we do not ask for immigration status, and we will continue to implement that practice.”

While Pohl emphasized that her staff does not coordinate with ICE and wants the courthouse to be welcoming for all, she acknowledged the limitations of her authority. 

“We are not able to stop [ICE] if they come to the building,” she said. “But we are going to do our best to make sure that ICE is not in our office and not lurking about.”

Pohl disputed social media rumors that Chesterfield had declared itself a “sanctuary” county — suggesting such misinformation may have drawn ICE’s attention.

“Chesterfield is not a sanctuary county at all,” Pohl said. “But I firmly believe that this is hallowed ground, this is a sacred area. We have to respect the rule of law and due process, and that’s not what’s happening here.”

About three dozen county residents and news media gathered outside the courthouse Wednesday in a protest organized by local civil rights groups and community leaders. Speakers condemned the ICE arrests as inhumane, excessive and a betrayal of democratic ideals. A lone passer-by who yelled out “God bless Donald Trump” was quickly shouted down.

Nicole Martin, president of the Chesterfield County NAACP, addressed the crowd first.

“Let us be clear, courthouses are sacred places in a democracy,” she said. “When ICE conducts raids in courthouses, we do more than just dispute legal proceedings. We undermine the very foundation of due process.”

Martin warned that courthouse raids don’t only impact immigrants.

“Imagine being a victim of domestic violence, showing up to court to seek a protective order, and instead being detained by ICE. Or think of a key witness in a criminal case who now refuses to testify out of fear of deportation,” she said. “These are not hypothetical situations. They are happening and happening right now.”

Among the speakers was Christian Martinez Lemus, a policy analyst with CASA, a national immigrant advocacy group.

“What we are seeing in the courts, which are supposed to be the places of law and order, is the full erosion of due process and constitutional rights,” Lemus said. “Make no mistake, this is not an issue of illegality. This is an issue of poor people being sent away for political purposes.”

Lemus framed the arrests as part of a broader anti-immigrant agenda driven by Trump-era ideology.

“President Trump’s vision is to wipe out the diversity melting pot this country is known for,” he said. “If ICE agents can wear masks, abduct people in courts, and send them to undisclosed prisons, do you think you are safe? No. We will fight darkness and fear through hope.”

Chesterfield resident Curtis Smith said he attended the protest out of concern for civil liberties.

“What ICE is doing is despicable,” he said. “I shouldn’t be in terror of walking out the courthouse and then wondering if I am going to get dragged off to a detention center because ICE agents saw that I have a Spanish name or something.”

He called the courthouse sweeps a “horrible ambush tactic,” adding that “people should have a chance to go to court without fear of something else that might happen to them when they go to court.”

Earlier this week, Youngkin defended the arrests, linking them to a broader law enforcement strategy. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the governor said Virginia’s Homeland Security Task Force had carried out over 2,000 arrests in collaboration with ICE, the FBI, DEA, and state police.

“The fact that there have been some arrests at the Chesterfield County Courthouse makes sense, because they clearly have been arrested, they clearly are here illegally,” Youngkin said. “It’s working. And most importantly, we’re getting really tough bad guys off the street.”

Miyares, whose office played no role in the arrests, nonetheless offered support for the federal operation. 

“These individuals fall into one of two categories: they’re either here illegally and have committed violent felonies, or they’ve already been ordered to be deported by a federal judge,” Miyares said in an email.

But civil rights leaders and Democratic lawmakers expressed alarm.

Del. Michael Jones, D-Richmond, released a blistering statement denouncing the courthouse operations as a “rupture in the social covenant” and a violation of constitutional values.

“The courthouse stands as hallowed ground within our constitutional republic — a sanctuary where justice is sought,” Jones said. “When ICE agents transform this space into a site of apprehension, they desecrate the very temple of justice their oath of office obligates them to uphold.”

Jones warned that such enforcement “engenders a climate of fear that permeates entire communities” and proposed several reforms, including designating courthouses as “sensitive locations” where ICE action would be restricted.

“These enforcement tactics do not occur in a historical vacuum,” he said. “They violate basic dignity. Justice without mercy isn’t justice at all — it’s just power masquerading as righteousness.”

A spokesperson for U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said the senator is monitoring developments and stressed the importance of transparency. 

“ICE officers should be clearly identifiable to the public as law enforcement to mitigate risk — including risk to themselves if people misunderstand what’s happening,” the spokesperson said.

In the meantime, the full scope of ICE’s presence in Chesterfield and other parts of the state remains unclear. Neither ICE nor the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has responded to The Mercury’s requests for comment.

However, the Chesterfield detentions are part of a broader pattern of stepped-up immigration enforcement across Virginia in recent months. 

In Sterling, ICE arrested 10 individuals outside the Northern Virginia Immigration Court earlier this year, prompting similar concerns from advocates about courthouse-related detentions undermining due process. 

In Albemarle County, ICE agents detained two men inside the Albemarle County Courthouse, sparking outrage from local attorneys and activists who said the operation put public safety and legal access at risk.

Additional raids have occurred outside traditional courthouse settings. 

In Northern Virginia, ICE and the FBI jointly detained seven undocumented individuals in what the agency called a “targeted enforcement operation” focused on alleged public safety threats. 

A separate joint operation in Richmond led to the arrest of an undocumented Egyptian national with a prior criminal history, though ICE did not release the individual’s name or further details. 

Overall, federal data cited by Axios indicates Virginia has seen a significant increase in deportation and detention activity in 2025, with the state now among the top 10 nationally for total ICE removals.

Also in Virginia, the Youngkin administration in February launched the Virginia Homeland Security Task Force (VHSTF) through a partnership between the U.S. Department of Justice and the commonwealth. 

Drawing in more than 200 agents from federal (FBI, ICE, DOJ) and state departments (Virginia State Police, Department of Corrections), the VHSTF was created to blunt transnational organized crime, gang violence, and immigration violations. 

Within two months, it recorded its first milestone — 521 arrests, including 132 individuals with alleged gang affiliations such as MS‑13 and Tren de Aragua — underscoring Youngkin’s description of the initiative as a model “federal-state collaboration” in law enforcement.

Top officials praised the task force’s rapid progress. Youngkin lauded the joint effort as a blueprint for national enforcement efforts, stating that its success “should be replicated all across the country.” 

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi hailed the operation as evidence of “unprecedented collaboration,” FBI Director Kash Patel called it “a tremendous success,” and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons pointed to the expansion of the 287(g) program — authorized by Executive Order 47 on Feb.  27 and operational within 20 hours — as a key driver of the early results. 

The VHSTF continues to pursue long-term investigations into narcotics trafficking, transnational organized crime, and gang-related activity across Virginia.

Meanwhile, immigration advocates say they are hearing of similar arrests in other parts of the state and are preparing for legal challenges.

Standing outside the courthouse in the aftermath of Wednesday’s protest, Pohl, Chesterfield’s Circuit Court clerk, said as the struggle continues, the nation’s constitutional credence must take precedence.

“We have to respect the rule of law in due process, and that’s not what’s happening here,” she said.

Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com.

The post ‘Hallowed ground, desecrated’: ICE sweeps at Chesterfield court draw fierce backlash appeared first on virginiamercury.com

Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Left-Leaning

This article presents immigration enforcement actions from a critical perspective, highlighting the negative impacts on immigrant communities and emphasizing concerns about due process, family separation, and economic consequences. The use of emotional language, personal stories, and voices from activists and civil rights leaders underscores a sympathetic stance toward undocumented immigrants and opposition to aggressive ICE tactics. While it includes statements from conservative officials defending enforcement efforts, the framing and choice of sources reflect a primarily left-leaning viewpoint that questions the fairness and morality of current immigration crackdowns.

SUMMARY: A flash flood warning is in effect until 7:30 p.m. due to heavy rainfall causing significant traffic delays along Mechanicville Turnpike, Creighton Road, and near I-295 toward Richmond. Rainfall rates reach up to 3 inches per hour. Thunderstorms with gusty northwest winds up to 29 mph continue, and downbursts—damaging wind events—may occur as they did recently in Chester. Temperatures remain in the low to mid-90s with heat advisory until 7 p.m., feeling over 100°F with humidity. Additional storms may develop along an approaching cold front, bringing cooler air and a chance for severe weather tomorrow.

Flash Flood Warning in effect until 7:30 p.m.

Source

by Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury
June 26, 2025

The Democratic Attorneys General Association is putting big money behind Jay Jones, announcing Thursday a $1 million investment in his campaign to flip Virginia’s attorney general seat and restore Democratic control of the office.

“Jones is a committed public servant who has always put his constituents and their rights first, which is why DAGA is excited to make this early investment to flip the seat back to blue,” the group said in a statement.

The high-dollar move came just one day after the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), the party’s national arm for state legislative races, announced a $400,000 boost to Democratic House of Delegates candidates and a new wave of endorsements in competitive districts. 

The back-to-back funding announcements signal a coordinated national effort to reclaim power in Virginia, where Republicans currently hold all three statewide offices and Democrats remain in control of both chambers of the legislature. 

DAGA President Sean Rankin said the time to act is now, casting Jones as a critical check on recent Republican policies, particularly those of President Donald Trump. 

“Virginia needs an attorney general like Jones who will hold Trump accountable for his unlawful actions,” Rankin said. “Jay Jones is running a campaign to defend democracy and fight for Virginia families, and we are confident he will deliver for the commonwealth as the next attorney general.”

With “so much at stake,” Rankin added, “it’s vital we take back this seat in November, and we’re committed to working with Jones to make that happen.”

Jones, a former state delegate from Norfolk and the son of the late Judge Jerrauld C. Jones, won the Democratic nomination last week after narrowly defeating Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor in a hard-fought primary. 

The victory marked a political comeback for Jones, who previously lost the 2021 Democratic nomination for attorney general to then-incumbent Mark Herring. In November, Jones hopes to unseat Republican Jason Miyares.

A graduate of UVA and the University of Virginia School of Law, Jones has focused his campaign on reproductive rights, voting access, criminal justice reform and standing up to what he describes as “an increasingly extreme Republican agenda” at both the state and federal levels. He has said that Virginia’s next attorney general must be prepared to challenge legal efforts to roll back civil liberties and democratic protections.

The $1 million investment is one of the largest early commitments DAGA has made this cycle and underscores the strategic importance of the Virginia race. Attorney general contests have become a national battleground for policy fights ranging from abortion and gun rights to election law and corporate regulation.

Meanwhile, the DLCC’s newly endorsed candidates include Lindsey Dougherty, who’s challenging Republican Del. Carrie Coyner in the 75th District; Leslie Mehta, taking on Del. Mark Earley Jr. in the 89th; May Nivar, running against Del. David Owen in the 57th; and Kacey Robins Carnegie, vying for an open seat in Hampton Roads after GOP Del. Baxter Ennis opted not to seek re-election.

All four won their primaries last week and are now seen as key players in the battle for control of the House. The DLCC described the candidates as part of a broader strategy to “move Virginia forward” and flip seats Democrats narrowly lost in previous cycles.

Virginia’s 2025 election is shaping up to be a high-stakes test for both parties, with all three statewide offices — governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general — on the ballot, alongside the entire 100-member House of Delegates. 

With national figures and outside money pouring into the commonwealth, the contests are likely to preview messaging and strategy ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com.

The post National Democrats pour $1M into Jay Jones’ bid to flip Virginia AG seat appeared first on virginiamercury.com

Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Left

This article clearly reflects a Center-Left political bias by emphasizing support for Democratic candidates and framing their campaigns positively. It highlights substantial financial backing from Democratic organizations, portrays Jay Jones as a committed public servant defending democracy and civil liberties, and presents Republican policies, particularly those associated with Donald Trump, in a critical light. The language and framing suggest alignment with progressive priorities such as reproductive rights, voting access, and criminal justice reform. While it maintains a somewhat factual tone, the selection of quotes and emphasis on Democratic strategies indicate a favorable perspective toward the Democratic Party and its agenda in Virginia’s elections.