Lawmakers Weigh ‘Sanctuary’ Polices After Woman’s Death in Virginia

Added: 2026-05-18

[00:00:00]Next, did so-called sanctuary policies contribute to the death of Stephanie Minter in Fairfax County, Virginia?

[00:00:07]House lawmakers bring in Fairfax County officials for questioning after Minter was allegedly killed by an illegal immigrant who was released after previous charges were dropped. And EWTN correspondent Jason Blair reports on that.

[00:00:20]A long list of violent crimes perpetrated by criminal illegal aliens that these officials had in their custody and refused to prosecute and refused to remove from their communities. The most recent case is the tragic and entirely preventable murder of Stephanie Minter.

[00:00:36]>> Republican lawmakers question Fairfax County officials over policies that some say contributed to the death of Stephanie Minter. Minter was stabbed to death at a bus stop allegedly by an illegal immigrant.

[00:00:48]>> who took my daughter's life should not have been free to walk the streets.

[00:00:53]He had been picked up many times. He was known. There were warnings. I am not here for politics. I am here for accountability.

[00:01:01]>> Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano is accused by other witnesses of having openly lenient policies when prosecuting illegal immigrants. Descano says he doesn't have so-called sanctuary policies.

[00:01:14]>> My office does not provide sanctuary or safe harbor to undocumented immigrants.

[00:01:18]In fact, we routinely prosecute immigrants who commit crimes and we will continue to do so.

[00:01:23]>> The Fairfax County Sheriff stated that Descano refused to prosecute Stephanie Minter's alleged killer on previous charges. He was released and 3 months later he was charged with murdering Stephanie Minter.

[00:01:35]>> I was ordered to release him by a judge.

[00:01:38]One witness argues that sanctuary policies help prevent violence against women.

[00:01:42]>> Contrary to the premise of this hearing, sanctuary policies aren't obstacles to public safety. They're essential to it.

[00:01:50]Study after study, including by criminologist Charis Kubrin, shows that immigrants commit fewer crimes.

[00:01:57]And law enforcement leaders have warned that when survivors fear the police, crimes go unreported and communities become less safe. Immigration subcommittee chairman Tom McClintock argues that another study says that illegal immigrants are much more likely to commit crimes. The Center for Immigration Studies looked at the uh escape documentation from states seeking reimbursement for illegal aliens held in their state prisons. They found that illegal aliens are typically at least three times as likely to be incarcerated than citizens or lawfully >> [clears throat] >> uh present aliens. Reporting on Capitol Hill, Jason Blair, NTD News.