The U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday that it has launched an investigation into the policies of Soros-backed Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, focusing on whether his office treated defendants differently based on immigration status.
According to the department, the inquiry will be handled by its Civil Rights Division and will examine plea bargaining, charging decisions, and sentencing practices adopted by Descano’s office. Federal officials stated that the review aims to determine if certain policies resulted in preferential treatment for illegal alien defendants, potentially at the expense of U.S. citizens.
“Under my leadership, the Civil Rights Division will not allow local prosecutors to pick and choose winners based on their immigration status,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “This investigation will uncover whether this prosecutor is putting the community at risk by offering sweetheart deals to illegal immigrants charged with serious crimes.”
In a notice sent to Descano, the department cited a 2020 policy that directs prosecutors to consider immigration-related consequences when making legal decisions. The guidance instructs attorneys to weigh potential immigration outcomes tied to specific charges when determining how to proceed in a case.
The DOJ said the investigation will be conducted under multiple federal statutes, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and laws governing law enforcement conduct. Officials emphasized that the probe is in its early stages and no findings have been reached.
The inquiry follows criticism from the Department of Homeland Security, which has accused officials in Fairfax County and Virginia leadership of failing to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. DHS has pointed to cases where individuals were released after plea agreements despite having active immigration detainers.
In a recent announcement, DHS said it had taken into custody an individual accused of child sexual assault who had previously been released following a plea deal.
Descano’s office did not respond to requests for comment on the investigation.
