Alexandria: Police seek suspect after ICE hotline sprayed on park trail

Alexandria police are investigating anti-immigrant graffiti as a bias incident following the discovery of spray-painted messages along the Mount Jefferson Park pathway on Clifford Avenue. The vandalism was found at multiple locations on the trail. Messages included the words "ICE" and "REPORT TO DEPORT." The hotline telephone number for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was painted beneath the text. Investigators believe the incident occurred between 11 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday.

The Alexandria Police Department obtained a search warrant to continue the inquiry. Officers released a photo of a possible suspect. They are currently reviewing photographs provided by eyewitnesses that may show the same individual. The department is urging anyone with information about the suspect to contact the office.

Alexandria police chief criticized the act, stating that incidents designed to intimidate people have no place in the city. Neighbors expressed concern over the timing of the vandalism, which occurred days before Election Day. Many residents described the messages as a tactic intended to influence the upcoming election.

Jenn Walker, a neighborhood resident, said the late-night timing showed the person knew the act was wrong. "I think this person doing this late at night shows that they know it's wrong. They're trying to scare people," Walker said. Kristine Styry, another neighbor, noted the area is heavily liberal. Styry called the graffiti a scare tactic to make people vote a certain way.

This is the second recent anti-immigration display in the area. Two weeks earlier, residents found flyers on their vehicles bearing the seal of the Department of Homeland Security. Those flyers urged people to report potential immigration and voting law violations. DHS responded to inquiries about both the graffiti and the flyers in a written statement. The agency stated that vandalism is a crime and that being in the country illegally is also a crime. DHS encouraged patriotic Americans to help law enforcement uphold immigration laws.

The investigation continues as police prepare for the election. Officials stated that policing polling locations is not the department's role. They affirmed that officers will uphold the Constitution.