Arlington, Chesterfield and Fairfax in Center of National Firestorm
EdNews Virginia | February 3, 2026
A new investigation by Defending Education has designated more than 700 school districts nationwide as “immigration sanctuaries.” The list features districts with formal resolutions or guidance designed to resist federal immigration authorities.
Among the hundreds of sanctuary districts on Defending Education’s list, three of Virginia’s largest were named: Arlington Public Schools, Chesterfield County Public Schools, and Fairfax County Public Schools.
‘A Dangerous Game’
Defending Education’s Erika Sanzi warned that sanctuary districts have placed themselves in a precarious position.
“When school districts choose to resist or impede federal law enforcement, they are playing a dangerous game,” Sanzi told Fox News Digital. “Schools should not be declaring themselves sanctuary schools or safe havens from federal authorities, especially if/when they are, knowingly or not, shielding violent family members of their students.”
District Policies on Federal Enforcement
The Virginia districts named in the report have codified various levels of non-cooperation into their official division protocols:
- Arlington Public Schools: The district explicitly states it “does not require any information about the legal status of ANY of our students” and directs staff to deny federal agents access to school grounds unless a judicial warrant is presented.
- Chesterfield County Public Schools: The district’s official guidance sets forth that “federal immigration officials will be denied access to students” unless the agency provides a specific court order or warrant.
- Fairfax County Public Schools: Under its “Trust Policy,” the district guarantees that students can access benefits “without fear of information being disclosed, directly or indirectly, to federal immigration officials.”
Union Calls for Resistance
The ongoing drive to obstruct immigration law is being fueled by teachers unions. The Virginia Education Association (VEA) offers members advice on how to thwart federal law enforcement activities. The Arlington Education Association has echoed the VEA, maintaining that government-run schools should remain “safe zones,” outside the reach of federal law.
Homan Warns of Gang Activity
“Border Czar” Tom Homan has signaled a zero-tolerance approach to sanctuary policies, specifically citing the security risks they create for students. Homan has warned that transnational gangs thrive where law enforcement is limited or non-existent.
“How many MS-13 members are the age 14 to 17? Many of them,” Homan noted last year. More recently, he warned that “sanctuary jurisdictions will get exactly what they don’t want” — increased federal presence to remove criminal threats from local communities.