Arlington County Board Chair Slams Trump For Immigration Tweet

ARLINGTON, VA -- Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey released a statement slamming President Trump for a tweet that suggested the government would soon begin rounding up undocumented immigrants.

"Next week ICE will begin the process of removing the millions of illegal aliens who have illicitly found their way into the United States," Trump wrote in a June 17 tweet. "They will be removed as fast as they come in."

Dorsey issued a statement this week criticizing the "vague" threat and pledging resources for local immigrants who were worried.

"On Monday night, President Trump vowed to begin mass immigration arrests and removals of, as he put it, ‘millions of illegal aliens,’ beginning next week," the statement reads. "We cannot know whether this is a serious plan, or just another tweet that will be rescinded or forgotten within days – as so many of his tweets are. ...

"I would urge anyone in our community who fears he or she may be at risk, should this policy actually be carried out, to visit the County website, where you will find a wealth of immigration resources, in English and other languages," the statement adds. "This Board has approved funding for the Legal Aid Justice Center, to provide legal services to immigrants, and I would urge anyone with legal questions to contact them."

Dorsey said that Arlington would not assist "in any mass round up and deportation of families or the separation of yet more children," and that the county would continue to be a "welcoming community that is compassionate and values every human being."

In response to a tweet from President Donald Trump regarding immigration, and in an effort to provide context and comfort for the community, the Arlington County Board issued a statement during Tuesday's Board Meeting. pic.twitter.com/GS6FzjwzLH
— ArlingtonVA (@ArlingtonVA) June 19, 2019