Through the Cracks

Hit-and-run suspect was apprehended by area police at least 15 times.
By Scott J. Krischke
January 17, 2007

When United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents assigned to the agency's Washington, D.C. Fugitive Operations Team apprehended former Sterling resident Jose Sibrian on Nov. 30 of this year, they brought a man long listed as a federal fugitive immigrant finally into their custody.

Originally ordered deported in absentia by a U.S. Department of Justice immigration judge on Aug. 13, 2001, Sibrian had been on the run from federal immigration officers in the United States for more than half a decade.

In his time as a federal fugitive illegal immigrant, Sibrian was apprehended at least 15 times by officers of the Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Herndon Police Departments, according to police records. Just 10 days before he was apprehended, Sibrian, a heavily-cited driver, allegedly struck and killed Joseph Passarelli, a Herndon resident and father of three, with his 1997 Ford Mustang as the man walked his dog at dawn, according to Herndon police.

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In a related article:

AG Challenges Governor to Seek Federal Immigration Authority

Jan 17th - 1:11pm

By BOB LEWIS
AP Political Writer

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Gov. Timothy M. Kaine needs to seek federal authority for some state law-enforcement agencies to enforce immigration laws in the course of investigating violent crimes, Attorney General Bob McDonnell said Wednesday.

McDonnell, a Republican, challenged the Democratic governor to reconsider his decision not to enter into federal agreements that allow state agents to use federal law to detain illegal immigrants who commit crimes.

Local and state authorities can only hold illegal immigrants for up to 72 hours, and then only if they have been convicted of a felony, deported and then returned to Virginia, McDonnell said.