Political philosopher Eugene Lewis may not have had Fairfax County, Virginia’s illegal alien mayhem in mind when he coined the now famous line “Assumption is the mother of all mistakes,” but he pegged the problem perfectly. Starting in 2017, Fairfax County officials put in place comprehensive sanctuary policies, relying heavily on a widely specious assertion promoted by leftist anti-borders advocates who claim that “not enforcing immigration laws builds community trust and safety.”
Fairfax County officials took the bait and got hoodwinked. Although they won’t admit their mistake, they now have a very big problem: 13 people have been murdered by illegal aliens in recent years. The Department of Homeland Security reports illegal aliens are responsible for approximately 75 percent of all murders in Fairfax County so far in 2026, and illegal immigration runs rampant throughout the county.
The epidemic of violence was inevitable. This “progressive” county is situated in the affluent, virtue-signaling, politically blue Northern Virginia suburbs. Not surprisingly, it has one of the most extensive compendia of sanctuary policies, ordinances, and resolutions in the country, all designed to obstruct immigration enforcement…prohibiting everything short of even thinking about helping federal officials. Public employees may not communicate, cooperate, or comply with federal immigration authorities in nearly any way, shape, or form, and jails are restricted from honoring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers. Thus, illegal aliens are simply released back onto the streets after they serve their sentences rather than being transferred into federal custody.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay explains the rationale for their sanctuary policies: “Our police officers work tirelessly across our community. Their success depends on building trust with all residents, regardless of immigration status. When individuals are afraid to talk to the police — whether as witnesses or victims of crimes — justice suffers. Crimes go unsolved, and community safety is compromised.”
Top to bottom, Fairfax County officials are adamant that not enforcing immigration laws and releasing aliens back into the community somehow serves the public interest. And that fantasy belief is why Marvin Fernando Morales-Ortez, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador, was allowed to roam free to brutally murder a Fairfax County resident in 2025. He did so just one day after local officials refused to honor the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest detainer and released him. And this is just one example from the revolving doors of the Fairfax County jail.
Unfortunately, it seems no one in influence in Fairfax County has paused to consider the validity of the foundational premise underpinning its dangerous sanctuary policies: If they did, several truths would emerge.
There is no empirical basis for the idea that sanctuary policies enhance community trust and facilitate information sharing with citizens. Indeed, the claim is a concoction of the Far Left whose goal is to eradicate sovereign borders and abolish immigration laws by all means and myths possible. No documented evidence exists anywhere indicating that an illegal alien was immediately deported as a result of reporting a crime or volunteering information to the police.
Sanctuary policies do not protect immigrant communities; they actually put them at greater risk. When criminal aliens are released back onto the streets, it’s likely that they will reoffend in the very immigrant community in which they live. Fairfax County officials need only to look at their neighboring community of Montgomery County, Maryland, to see that the violent illegal alien gang MS-13 almost exclusively victimizes the immigrant community. Making immigrant communities less safe does not enhance public trust.
Sanctuary policies put immigrant communities at greater risk of ICE arrests and may increase distrust. If ICE is prohibited from arresting the criminal illegal alien in the confined surroundings of the jail, its officers will be forced to go into the community to locate and arrest that criminal. When ICE does that, its officers often encounter other illegal aliens who then become collateral arrests.
Uniformly enforcing all laws for all residents demonstrates fairness and fosters trust. When politically-driven sanctuary policies force local law enforcement to exclude illegal aliens from the consequences of the law, it diminishes integrity and reinforces the perception that the local police are as corrupt and capricious as they are in many of the Third World countries from which immigrants flee. Civic trust in local police then erodes, resulting in a chilling effect, causing fewer residents to approach police.
Fairfax County isn’t helping the immigrant community with its sanctuary policies as much as they are endangering it. Sanctuary policies reduce public trust and safety, the very thing the county claims it wants to enhance.
As Lewis observed, assumptions may indeed be the mother of mistakes. However, in Fairfax County – along with 1,003 other jurisdictions nationwide that have put illegal alien sanctuary policies in place – flawed assumptions not only lead to mistakes and unintended consequences, but also to murders.
Dale L. Wilcox is executive director and general counsel at the Federation for American Immigration Reform in Washington, D.C.
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
Can anyone name one “Democrat” politician that ever did or proposed the deed that would benefit taxpayer ,community or the country. One. There they are, in the office, year after year.
It is great to be able to read and think about the truth concerning the misguided sanctuary policies that are not helping this Nation achieve what it should achieve. Any regard for the idea of Life, Liberty, the Pursuit of Happiness is obviously not part of the so-called sanctuary plans. Your views are appreciated Mr. Wilcox. There is much to do to establish sensible plans that will be based on intelligent ideas with the principles of Faith, Family and Freedom part of the picture .In the spirit of God bless America, land of the free and the home of the brave. Law enforcement is honorable the Police should be supported in their efforts to keep this a civilized Nation.
Politicians who enact these “anti-Ice” laws and the judges who let criminal illegal aliens go free should be held responsible and jailed for any mayhem and death the illegal aliens commit.
Sanctuary jurisdictions are a direct violation of federal law. Those in charge of them should be arrested and prosecuted. This nonsense will continue, and probably get worse, until there is a price to pay for flagrantly violating federal law.
Let these anti-immigration enforcement cities, counties and states stew in their own foul juices. Sadly, their lawbreaking invaders wander into Red states and harm people there. The leaders of these areas need to be prosecuted for breaking Federal laws and endangering everyone and ALL invaders need to expelled ASAP.
And these are the people who also want to outlaw the most popular defensive weapon people own for self defense. Rules for the but not for me.
“Assumption” was not involved here. It was strict intent. They knew the dangerous outcome but nonetheless went full speed to accomplish their goals of increasing the illegal population for census purposes, voting advantages, and to ultimately replace the existing population. Only the voters can fix this.
Why must we suffer fools?
sanctuary is death for AMERICANS!!
Why is violating federal law allowed by localities (such as Fairfax, VA) and not addressed at the federal level? Arrests and removal from public office should occur as consequences for these actions. These situations just further divide rather than unite and secure us as a country.
“Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay explains the rationale for their sanctuary policies: “Our police officers work tirelessly across our community. Their success depends on building trust with all residents, regardless of immigration status. When individuals are afraid to talk to the police — whether as witnesses or victims of crimes — justice suffers. Crimes go unsolved, and community safety is compromised.” “
Obviously MR Jeff McKay you are wrong. Have you met with and apologized to any of your victim’s family’s?
Did the Native Americans call Europeans “illegal immigrants”, or “invaders”?