Concerned that with new Democratic leadership in Virginia that Virginia could become the target of a major ICE offensive, Falls Church’s and Arlington’s Commonwealth Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti joined eight fellow district attorneys and prosecutors across the nation Tuesday in an association called The Project to Fight Against Federal Overreach. The effort is designed  to assist in prosecuting federal law enforcement officers who violate state laws.

The coalition of progressive district attorneys and prosecutors includes the elected attorneys, in addition to Dehghani-Tafti, from Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano in Fairfax County to Norfolk and Portsmouth in Virginia, Pima County, Arizona, Dallas and Austin, Texas, Philadelphia, Pa., and Hennepin County (Minneapolis), Minnesota.

The Fight Against Federal Overreach (FAFO) coalition gained national notoriety through a report in the New York Times yesterday headlined, “City Prosecutors Join Forces to Bring Charges Against Federal Agents,” and begins, “Nine progressive prosecutors will work together…” and it identifies Dehghani-Tafti as representing Falls Church and Arlington.

At a FAFO online press conference yesterday, in response to a question from the News-Press, Dehghani-Tafti affirmed that she is concerned that Virginia may become an ICE target now that it has statewide Democratic leadership.

Dehghani-Tafti’s nationally high profile action was augmented in the City of Falls Church Tuesday night by strong statements from Mayor Letty Hardi and two other City Council members at the outset of the City Council meeting at City Hall. 

Hardi began the meeting with the following statement:

“Before we begin, I want us to pause to honor Alex Pretti and Renee Good (and others we’re learning who have also died in federal custody) whose deaths in Minnesota should trouble every one of us. This was not only a tragic loss of life—it is a warning sign. These were lives lost under circumstances that raise serious questions about the use of power and the steady erosion of civil liberties that are supposed to protect us all.

“What happened in Minnesota should concern every community – even thousands of miles away here in Falls Church – because when basic rights are weakened anywhere, they are weakened everywhere. 

“Here in Falls Church, we value the dignity and rights of every individual. We believe in accountability in law enforcement, in transparent investigations, and in policing that protects without fear or intimidation. That’s why I want to be clear: the kinds of federal enforcement operations that have led to these deaths — and the lack of credible, independent review that should follow — are not something we welcome in our community. 

“So tonight, we stand in solidarity with Minnesota, with the families who are grieving, and with all those calling for accountability and justice. Let us take a moment of silence to honor Alex and Renee and hold their families and communities in our hearts.”

Her remarks were followed by strong statements along the same line from Councilmen David Snyder and Arthur Agin.

 Dehghani-Tafti issued a statement yesterday morning about her decision to become one of nine prosecutors in the U.S. to join the Project to Fight Against Federal Overreach. It reads

:”Until now, have never been in a situation in the U.S. where a militarized police force enters our communities and does what it wants with complete impunity, and this coalition has formed to ensure that all law enforcement officers and agencies are subject to the rule of law, working together to return to the most fundamental and foundational of American principles:

“All law enforcement power is subject to civilian accountability; every single law enforcement officer in the county – whether local, county  state, or federal – answers to and is accountable to us — the public “Not a single law enforcement officer – whether local, county, state, or federal – can be allowed to operate with impunity or behave as if it is above the law.

“As elected prosecutors, our message is simple: any and all law enforcement agencies operating in our communities are subject to the rule of law, no matter the acronym on their jackets. And, if you break the law, we have the jurisdiction, we have the authority, we have the power, and we need no one’s permission, to investigate, charge, and prosecute you. We will do so because we care about our communities, we care about our country, and we care about our democracy.”

These statements were augmented this week by video and online comments from U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, representing the 8th District of Northern Virginia that includes Falls Church. He said:

“The Department of Homeland Security is murdering American citizens. Congress cannot allow that to continue, we must act following the shooting deaths in Minneapolis of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. We need a full, independent investigation into these killings.

ICE, CBP and other DHS personnel must leave Minnesota and other cities where they have been sent to sow division and fear,” he said..

“No more occupation. No more assaults on Americans peacefully exercising their rights. No more masked agents. No more warrantless entries. No more mass arrests to fill deportation quotas. I voted against funding for DHS. Congress shouldn’t pass funding for this lawless agency without major guardrails. And the House should impeach Kristi Noem.”

On a social media video, Beyer added, “The murder of Alex Pretti by [CBP] is an outrage. This is the most horrifying act of our government I’ve ever seen on video.

  “Like the murder of Renee Good, eyewitness videos prove that [the Department of] Homeland Security is lying about the shooting. [In the videos] We see a [CBP] agent charge a woman who has been filming him. Then he shoves her to the ground and pepper sprays her face.

  “Alex Pretti does what you or I would do, he tries to protect her by placing himself between her and the agent, and then struggles to help her to her feet. They both slip on the ice, but Alex continues to shield the woman with his body.

“That’s when we witness the murder, CBP agents pepper spray him, tackle him to the ground, and then shoot him in the back again and again, shots the Department of Homeland Security insanely calls ‘defensive shots.’

  “I’ve called for the resignation of Kristi Noem, and I will vote for her impeachment.

She’s obstructing local authorities from investigating two murders committed in Minneapolis by DHS agents.

  “DHS cannot be allowed to investigate itself. That’s how it’s done in dictatorships, not in America. [These DHS agents are] Wearing masks – federal forces are entering people’s homes without warrants, they’re violating our constitutional rights, and sowing division and fear, all to meet a Kristi Noem [deportation] quota.”