Arlington, VA to pay $2,000 in taxpayer funds to families of illegal aliens detained by ICE

The grants, which are being distributed by Arlington Thrive, will give up to $2,000 per impacted family to cover housing, food, and utilities if the primary breadwinner happens to be an illegal immigrant arrested by federal authorities. According to ARLnow, the measure passed with a 4 to 0 vote on September 2 in response to a surge of ICE in the greater Washington, DC area.

“We stand with our immigrant families, and we will not stop doing so,” Arlington County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said. “We are valuing the families of those that have been displaced and removed.”

The Department of Homeland Security posted in response to the fund from Arlington to pay the families of illegal immigrants arrested by ICE, "You can’t make this up. Sanctuary politicians are taking Americans’ hard earned tax dollars to reward illegal aliens who break the law. This insanity shows once again who they put first."

The grants can be provided in the form of checks or debit cards to meet the needs of the families. Arlington Thrive also plans on working with the families who are not able to use banks because of their immigration status.

“Thrive is eager to get started with this project,” Elizabeth Matlock, a staff member in the county manager’s office, said.

The action from the board to pay the families of illegal immigrants comes after there were over 1,300 arrests by ICE in the greater Washington, DC area in just two weeks of August. At that rate, the grants may not last that long, as payouts of up to $2,000 can cover just 25 arrests if the family takes the full $2,000 from the grants.

De Ferranti said in August that officials in Arlington “will do everything we can within the law to provide support and to protect the safety of all our residents, documented and undocumented."