Virginia county to pay up to $2K to families with primary wage earner detained by ICE

Leaders in one Virginia county approved a program last week to set aside $50,000 to support families in which the primary wage earner has been detained by federal immigration authorities.

In a special Sept. 2 meeting, the Arlington County Board voted 4-0 to appropriate the funds, which will be distributed by Arlington Thrive, which describes itself as a "key component of the social safety net" in partnership with the county government.

Under the program, eligible families will receive up to $2,000 for those who have lost the primary wage earner. Arlington Thrive aims to assist between 25 to 30 families, according to the board's agenda.

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"We stand with our immigrant families, and we will not stop doing so," Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said. "We are valuing the families of those that have been displaced and removed."

The move was in response to the Trump administration's illegal immigration enforcement efforts in the Washington, D.C., area in recent months.

"Ensuring that we take care of our community and our residents and our people does mean making sure that we have emergency assistance available for what is probably one of the most challenging situations that you could possibly face," Board Vice Chair Maureen Coffey said. "I'm very proud of us for doing this."

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The funds will be distributed to families in the form of debit cards and checks.

Elizabeth Matlock, a staff member in the county manager’s office who is coordinating the effort, said the organization is ready to begin issuing funds.

"Thrive is eager to get started with this project," she said.

The vote came as officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) quietly made more than 1,300 arrests of illegal immigrants over 14 days in the Washington, D.C., suburbs last month.

Of those arrested, almost 400 illegal immigrants had criminal convictions or pending criminal charges, including a Salvadoran national wanted in Richmond, Virginia, on a murder warrant. Other crimes included rape, sexual assault, kidnapping, DUI, robbery and attempted murder.