Jordan subpoenas sanctuary city DAs

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan is sending subpoenas to district attorneys in Boulder, Colorado and Fairfax, Virginia, accusing them of giving preferential treatment to undocumented immigrants in criminal cases.

Fairfax stabbing case sparks probe

Fairfax County DA Steve Descano faces scrutiny after a man arrested over 30 times allegedly killed U.S. citizen Stephanie Minter. The man entered the country illegally from Sierra Leone in 2012.

Descano's immigration guidance policy

In 2020, Descano issued guidance telling prosecutors to consider immigration consequences when pursuing cases, even when immigration status is unrelated to the alleged crime.

Descano defends his office's record

Descano's office says it has provided over 1,100 pages of documents and voluntarily testified before Congress. They claim Fairfax County remains one of the safest large communities in the country.

“We are disappointed by the Committee's needless escalation of this matter, part of a partisan siege on Fairfax County residents and their values that does nothing to improve public safety.”

Dougherty calls probe political theater

Boulder County DA Michael Dougherty says Jordan's investigation ignores failures in the federal immigration system. Dougherty recently lost his Democratic primary race for Colorado attorney general.

“Congressional Republicans are continuing the same political stunt they started months ago. I'm not going to be intimidated into abandoning my responsibility to protect public safety, stand with victims, and uphold the law.”

Boulder's sanctuary ordinance

Boulder passed an ordinance in January 2017 directing government employees not to work with federal immigration authorities or inquire about immigration status.

Jordan's investigation process

Jordan says his committee follows a standard process: requesting information, explaining why, working with offices, and using subpoenas only if necessary. He's conducting the probe with Rep. Tom McClintock.

“There's a process we always go through. We ask for things, we ask again, we explain why, we work with their office, in some cases their counsel, and back and forth. And then if we have to use subpoenas, we certainly will do that.”