Federal immigration agents arrested 15 construction workers at an Alexandria apartment complex Monday afternoon, sparking an evening community rally where city officials and residents denounced the enforcement action.
The arrests occurred at Eaton Square Apartments on Florence Drive in the Chirilagua neighborhood while the men were working on a roofing project, according to Evelin Urrutia, executive director of Tenants and Workers United. The timing coincided with the first day of school in Alexandria, heightening community concerns about children’s safety.
“The people arrested were working on the roof of an apartment building when they were targeted and abducted by masked federal agents,” Urrutia said during the community gathering at 3801 Florence Drive. “This comes as families were ready to pick up their children on the first day of classes.”
Community members filmed the arrests and confirmed that seven to eight ICE agents were present during the operation. Witnesses said the agents provided no information about the reason for the arrests or where they were taking the workers.
On short notice, a couple of dozen people rallied with signs in front of the apartment complex where the workers had been detained earlier in the day.
Mayor Alyia Gaskins attended the rally and condemned the federal enforcement action.
“The men who were taken today, who were kidnapped today, they were not strangers. They are our neighbors. They are someone’s parent. They are someone’s son, someone’s brother, cousin, friend,” Gaskins said. “This is a council that we’re not going to just stay seated. This is a council that the things that are under our authority to do, we will act and do that.”
Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley and City Council member Abdel Elnoubi also attended the community gathering.
City Councilman Canek Aguirre released a statement calling the enforcement action an example of an “authoritarian regime hell bent on terrorizing communities.”
“Masked individuals in tactical gear and unmarked vehicles refusing to identify themselves have chosen the start of a new school year to inflict more fear and terror for many of our neighbors and friends in Alexandria,” Aguirre said.
Oliver Marino, a city resident who works for the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and identifies as an undocumented immigrant, described witnessing the workers earlier in the day.
“This morning, I passed through these streets. I saw the men working. They were working. They were just doing things that you and I do every day to feed their families,” Marino said.
The community response included volunteers who monitored the area during the first day of school. Some community members reported seeing ICE agents near an elementary school, though this could not be confirmed.
Reverend Deborah Porras from Beverly Hills Community United Methodist Church called on faith communities to take action.
“This morning, when we were taking children to school, we had people all over this community searching and watching in case we had ICE agents popping up, trying to accost children,” Porras said.
Community leaders also criticized local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, specifically targeting Sheriff Sean Casey’s policies. Marino said his organization has confirmed more than 30 people from the community being transferred to ICE by the sheriff without judicial warrants.
Sammie Moshenberg, a 40-year resident of the neighboring Delray area, referenced Fairfax County Sheriff’s policies as an example of non-cooperation with ICE.
“If the Fairfax County Sheriff understands that there’s no legal reason to cooperate with ICE, why doesn’t our sheriff,” Moshenberg said.
The arrested workers all appeared to be men working for the same construction company, according to witnesses. Community members said they asked the apartment management company for information, but received no response.
Urrutia said the enforcement action represents part of a broader pattern affecting Virginia communities. She advised residents to know their rights, including the right not to open doors to agents and the right to remain silent.
The Chirilagua neighborhood, located in Alexandria’s Arlandria area, has a significant Latino population and a long history of welcoming immigrants. The community gathering drew dozens of residents and supporters.
Tenants and Workers United, which organized the evening rally, works with low-income communities of color, primarily immigrants, to create changes in Northern Virginia.
ALXnow has reached out to the Alexandria Police Department, the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment.
In a statement to ALXnow on Tuesday afternoon, a spokesperson for Alexandria Police Department shared, “The Alexandria Police Department is not involved in federal immigration enforcement, nor does the police department receive notification of Federal ICE enforcement”.
Amy Bertsch, Public Information Officer for the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office, shared with ALXnow on Monday night, “As Sheriff Casey’s previous statement indicates, the Sheriff’s Office does not participate in any immigration enforcement in our community.” When asked for comment on Monday’s enforcement action, Bertsch said the Sheriff’s Office had “no comment on today’s enforcement” but directed ALXnow to use Casey’s previous statement.
On Aug. 13, the Sheriff’s Office published a statement on immigration concerns stating: “I want to reassure everyone that the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office does not and will not participate in any type of immigration enforcement in our community.”
The statement continues: “The Alexandria Adult Detention Center will never be used to house individuals arrested by ICE during their enforcement of immigration laws. Additionally, we will never use any taxpayer funds or accept any funding for immigration enforcement activities.”
However, the Sheriff’s Office website also notes that Virginia law requires all sheriffs to determine the citizenship of individuals arrested on felony charges and share this information with ICE. The office transfers custody of inmates to ICE on their scheduled release date when ICE has filed a lawful warrant and detainer.
According to data published by the Sheriff’s Office, 35 inmates have been transferred to ICE as of mid-July 2025, compared to 43 in all of 2024.
This story is developing.
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