Rep Tom McClintock Exposes Deadly Sanctuary Policies in Explosive Hearing

House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Chairman Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) chaired a high-stakes hearing Thursday exposing the deadly consequences of so-called sanctuary policies, using Fairfax County, Virginia, as a case study in how local officials prioritize illegal aliens over public safety.

In his opening statement and pointed questioning, McClintock dismantled the “nullification” doctrine embraced by sanctuary jurisdictions, likening it to John C. Calhoun’s failed states’ rights theory that once threatened the Republic. “These nullification or sanctuary jurisdictions now extend to 11 states–coincidentally the same number as the old Confederacy,” he stated.

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One third of the country live in sanctuary jurisdictions.

Sanctuary policies put Americans at risk and must end. https://t.co/zIjRYAk5fX

— Tom McClintock (@RepMcClintock) May 14, 2026

McClintock zeroed in on Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano and Sheriff Stacey Kincaid, both of whom have openly limited cooperation with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and are registered Democrats. Descano has boasted that his office makes “charging and plea decisions that limit or avoid immigration consequences,” arguing that deportation as a consequence of crime is a “perversion of justice.” McClintock called this a true perversion of equal justice under the law, noting it has triggered a Department of Justice Civil Rights Division investigation.

The hearing featured the tragic case of Stephanie Minter, a 41-year-old woman stabbed to death while waiting for a bus on February 23, 2026. Her accused killer, Abdul Jalloh, an illegal immigrant with a lengthy criminal record including trespass, drug possession, theft, larceny, and multiple malicious wounding arrests, had been in Fairfax custody at least 18 times between January 2023 and February 2026. Descano dismissed nearly all charges, and Sheriff Kincaid released him despite an ICE detainer. Fairfax County Police had warned Descano that Jalloh had “stabbed multiple people, sexually assaulted at least one woman,” and that it was “not a question of if, but rather when he will maliciously wound (or worse) again.” McClintock noted that three of Fairfax County’s seven homicides last year were committed by illegal aliens who could have been deported.

In a heated exchange captured on video and shared by the House Judiciary GOP, McClintock grilled Descano on another case involving an illegal immigrant who attempted to rape a 4-year-old girl. “I understand he was later taken into custody by ICE and deported. I’m just curious, did you notify ICE of that release?” McClintock asked. Descano admitted, “We did not call ICE.” McClintock replied pointedly: “The 4-year-old’s mother had to call to get him out of your community.”

McClintock also dismantled the officials’ excuse that they require a federal judicial warrant to honor ICE detainers. Turning to former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, McClintock confirmed that such warrants are legally impossible for civil immigration matters. “So they’re basically lying to the public,” McClintock stated. “They’re counting on the public not understanding that what they’re asking for is legally impossible.”

“These policies seem reckless, dangerous, crazy, wanton and cruel,” McClintock declared. “A long list of violent crimes perpetrated by criminal illegal aliens these officials had in their custody and refused to prosecute and refused to remove from their communities answers that question with poignancy.”

McClintock highlighted how similar sanctuary policies plague his home state, where sanctuary laws forbid local cooperation with ICE. Santa Clara County stands out with the worst ICE detainer compliance record in the nation. Public records obtained by America First Legal reveal that, from January 1, 2025, through January 2026, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office received 529 ICE detainer requests and honored none of them, releasing all 529 criminal aliens that ICE sought to detain back into the community.

Santa Clara County Sheriff Robert “Bob” Jonsen, a registered Democrat elected in 2022 with strong support from Democratic leaders and organizations. During his 2022 campaign, his team explicitly stated he was “the only Democrat and only pro-choice candidate on the ballot.” He received the endorsement of Planned Parenthood and has been vocal in defending the county’s non-cooperation. Jonsen has repeatedly stated that his office does not enforce civil immigration detainers or notify ICE of upcoming releases, in accordance with California’s sanctuary law (SB 54) and county policy. “We do NOT enforce civil immigration actions or detainers,” the Sheriff’s Office has emphasized under his leadership. Jonsen has also publicly refused to support ICE operations, including during major events like the Super Bowl, declaring his department “will not be working or supporting ICE Immigration Enforcement.”

This complete non-compliance stems directly from California’s sanctuary state law, the California Values Act (SB 54), which severely restricts local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities on civil detainers.

These policies have drawn legal challenges, such as El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells’ lawsuit against Attorney General Rob Bonta over SB 54’s restrictions on local police assisting federal ICE officers. McClintock himself has long warned of the dangers, famously stating that sanctuary policies amount to “No Borders, No Country.”

California remains the largest offender of DHS sanctuary jurisdictions violations, with over 100 counties and cities — including 48 of 58 counties — listed by the Department of Homeland Security for undermining federal immigration enforcement.  As of early 2026, an additional 33,179 criminal illegal aliens with active ICE detainers remained in California jails, facing charges that included 399 homicides and 3,313 assaults. The Department of Homeland Security has urgently called on Governor Gavin Newsom to halt their release into communities without notifying ICE. 

The hearing comes as McClintock continues pushing the Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act, legislation aimed at withholding federal funds from jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with ICE on criminal illegal aliens. With violent crimes linked to released offenders mounting nationwide, McClintock made clear that the era of unaccountable sanctuary nullification must end.