Federal officials have fanned out into area neighborhoods in search of people who are suspected of being in the U.S. illegally.

The change in enforcement tactics comes as Prince William County ended its relationship with federal Immigrations and Customs authorities in June. Under the old 297(g) agreement that had been in place since 2007, customs officials were notified when a suspect with a federal detainer to their name was released from the Prince William County Adult Detention Center in Manassas.

Now, federal officials are notified only when felony offenders with federal detainers are released from the jail.

“The end of the 287(g) program and the new policy of noncooperation has moved ICE enforcement from the secure location of the jail into the community,” said immigrations and customs spokeswoman Kate Pote. “Since Prince William County will only notify ICE of the release of a fraction of individuals ICE lodges lawful immigration detainers on, ICE must arrest those individuals at large at their home or workplace.

Customs officials could not provide PLN with the number of suspected illegals arrested in Prince William County since the 287(g) program ended. Previous arrests include Jose Guillermo Castillo Garcia who was arrested by the Prince William police on Dec. 14, for misdemeanor driving without a license and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated.

Castillo, a citizen of El Salvador, is illegally present in the U.S. ICE previously removed him to his home country June 22, 2007, following previous convictions for felony forgery; felony driving while intoxicated, 3rd or subsequent offense; felony assault and battery of a police officer/firefighter; and felony eluding endanger persons or police car.

• On Jan. 16, a federal grand jury indicted Castillo for illegal reentry after removal, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
• On March 5, Castillo pled guilty and was sentenced to ten months of incarceration.
• Marvin Guzman Morales was arrested by the Prince William County Police Department on Aug. 26, 2019, for misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, 2nd offense, and misdemeanor revoked license.
• Guzman, a citizen of El Salvador, is illegally present in the U.S. ICE previously removed him to his home country on June 27, 2003, Nov. 18, 2015, and June 15, 2018, following previous convictions for felony grand larceny, burglary 4th degree, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon, misdemeanor violation of a protective order and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, 2nd offense.

On Oct. 14, ICE arrested Guzman at the Prince William County Adult Detention Center and transferred him directly to U.S. Marshals Service custody.

• On Nov. 7, a federal grand jury indicted Guzman for illegal reentry after removal, a felony.
• On Dec. 19, a United States District Court Judge sentenced Guzman to 6 months imprisonment.
• On March 13, Guzman completed his period of incarceration and he was removed to his home country on June 25.

Jesus Jaaziel Zamora was arrested by Prince William police on Aug. 31, 2019, for misdemeanor driving while intoxicated.

• Zamora, a citizen of Mexico, is illegally present in the U.S. ICE previously removed him to his home country Nov. 10, 2015, and Sep. 21, 2016, following convictions for misdemeanor public intoxication, misdemeanor revoked driver’s license, misdemeanor failure to stop on an accident, misdemeanor petit larceny, misdemeanor false identification to a law enforcement officer, misdemeanor assault, misdemeanor obstruction of justice, misdemeanor disorderly conduct, misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, and federal prosecution for misdemeanor illegal entry to the U.S.
• On Nov. 13, a federal grand jury indicted Zamora for illegal reentry after removal, a felony.
• On Dec. 5, a United States District Court Judge sentenced him to 4 months imprisonment.

The decision to call immigration and customs agents apon the release of felony suspects is a shift in policy since the county jail board’s decision to end the 287(g) policy. Prince William County Sheriff Glendel Hill, who is also the jail board chairman, argued to keep the program in place, saying that it allows law enforcement the opportunity to work with inmates in efforts to identify other criminals in the area.

Delegate Elizabeth Guzman (D-31, Fauquier, Prince William) vowed to end the 287(g) program when she was elected to statewide office in 2017. Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair-At large appointed her to the jail board in June.

“We don’t like this program. It has created a division in our community. Many people who look like us have left the county,” said Guzman, at jail board meeting in June.

 

Prince William County Public Schools are working toward launching a hybrid learning schedule for many students next month, even though many questions remain about the details.

Virginia National Bankshares Corporation and Fauquier Bankshares, Inc announced the signing of a definitive agreement to combine in a strategic merger of equals. The combined company would have approximately $1.6 billion in total assets, $1.4 billion in total deposits, $1.3 billion in loans and more than $1 billion in assets under management based upon reported amounts as of June 30, 2020.

This strategic combination of like-minded community banks will create a premier Virginia financial institution with greater scale, operating leverage and complementary business lines. After the merger, the combined company will operate under the Virginia National brand and will be able to serve larger clients in its core Virginia markets of Charlottesville, Warrenton, Winchester and the counties of Albemarle, Fauquier, Frederick and Prince William. It will also accelerate current market expansions in Richmond and Northern Virginia.

“It is a rare opportunity to have two well-respected community banks of equal size in attractive markets put their individual missions aside to join forces in order to improve the experience of clients and employees and accelerate the returns of their shareholders,” said Glenn W. Rust, President and Chief Executive Officer of Virginia National. “Our entire team is honored to be entering this partnership with The Fauquier Bank, and I look forward to the leadership of The Fauquier Bank joining our team and bringing their expertise and experience to our organization.”

“There is a long-standing mutual respect between our two companies,” said Marc J. Bogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Fauquier Bank. “The enhanced scale and complementary business lines resulting from this transaction provides the best opportunity for both banks to better serve our major constituencies: our clients, our employees, our shareholders and our communities. We are committed to using the best practices of both companies to increase our market share across Virginia.”

The merger agreement was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies and has unanimous support from all directors. Under the terms of the agreement, Fauquier shareholders will receive 0.6750 shares of Virginia National common stock for each share of Fauquier common stock held. After the merger of Fauquier into Virginia National, Virginia National shareholders will own approximately 51.4% of the combined company, and Fauquier shareholders will own approximately 48.6%.

Upon consummation of the transaction, Fauquier will merge into Virginia National and Virginia National will be the surviving holding company. Following the holding company merger, The Fauquier Bank will merge into Virginia National Bank (“VNB”) and VNB will be the surviving bank. Offices of The Fauquier Bank will be rebranded as VNB offices after systems are integrated. Virginia National’s headquarters will remain in Charlottesville.

Following the merger, the boards of directors of Virginia National and VNB will include seven members from the current Virginia National and VNB boards and six members from the current Fauquier and The Fauquier Bank boards. Current Virginia National Chairman, William D. Dittmar, Jr., will continue to serve as Chairman of the combined company and current Fauquier Chairman, John B. Adams, Jr., will be appointed Vice Chairman. At the effective time of the merger, Mr. Rust will continue to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of Virginia National, while Mr. Bogan will be appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of VNB. Mr. Rust and Mr. Bogan will both serve on the boards of Virginia National and VNB.

The combination is expected to be completed in the first half of 2021, subject to approval of both companies’ shareholders, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Performance Trust Capital Partners is acting as financial advisor to Virginia National and Williams Mullen is acting as its legal advisor. Piper Sandler & Co. is acting as financial advisor to Fauquier and Troutman Pepper is acting as its legal advisor.

The Prince William County Fire & Rescue System is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association the sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years—to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!”

The campaign, which runs October 4 to 10, educates the public about cooking hazards and how one can take small, yet important actions to prevent cooking-related fires — the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries.

The fire protection agency states that, in 2018, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 172,900 house fires due to cooking, that’s an average of 470 home cooking fires per day with Thanksgiving and Christmas as peak days for home cooking fires. These types of fires resulted in 550 deaths, 4,820 injuries and over $1 billion in property damage. The leading cause of kitchen fires, in which individuals suffer injuries or worse, is food left cooking on a stove unattended.

“Some of our fondest memories are times spent in the kitchen, with family and friends, while preparing a delicious meal. Yet, when cooking, we must always be vigilant in protecting ourselves and our loved ones, by taking the necessary precautions in preventing home fires and home fire injuries,” said Prince William fire and rescue Chief Tim Keen.

Due to the coronavirus, the Prince William County Fire & Rescue System will host virtual Open Houses of our various fire stations, beginning Sunday, October 4 to Saturday, October 10, in support of this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, Information about the tours is available o the county fire department’s Facebook page.

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)