Alexandria Police Seek Suspect in Anti-Immigrant Graffiti Probe
Investigators are reviewing photos after 'Report to Deport' messages appeared on the Clifford Avenue trail.
By Nadia Singh ·
Alexandria police are investigating a series of anti-immigrant graffiti marks as a bias incident following their discovery on the Mount Jefferson Park pathway. The vandalism was found along Clifford Avenue just days before the general election.
Spray-paint messages on the trail read 'ICE' and 'REPORT TO DEPORT.' The agency's hotline telephone number was painted directly beneath the text. Investigators determined the act took place between 11 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday. Police obtained a search warrant and released an image of a possible suspect. Officers are currently reviewing photos provided by eyewitnesses to identify the individual.
Alexandria Police Chief condemned the act, stating that incidents designed to intimidate residents have no place in the city. Neighbors expressed anger over the timing of the vandalism. Jenn Walker, a local resident, described the late-night timing as evidence the perpetrator knew the act was wrong. Walker said, 'I think this person doing this late at night shows that they know it's wrong. They're trying to scare people.'
Kristine Styry, another neighbor, called the display a scare tactic intended to influence voter choice. She noted the area is predominantly liberal and blue. Styry said, 'I guess yeah, some kind of scare tactic to make people vote a certain way.' This incident follows a similar event two weeks earlier when residents found flyers on their vehicles. Those flyers bore the Department of Homeland Security seal and urged people to report immigration and voting law violations.
DHS responded to inquiries about both the graffiti and the flyers in a written statement. The department stated, 'Vandalism is a crime, so is being in our country illegally. We encourage all patriotic Americans to help DHS law enforcement uphold the nation's immigration laws.'
Alexandria police are preparing for the upcoming election. Officials clarified that policing polling locations is not their role but affirmed that officers will uphold the Constitution. Authorities continue to ask the public to contact the police department with information about the suspect.
