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Memorial at Alexandria church pays tribute to people who died in ICE custody
News
Memorial at Alexandria church pays tribute to people who died in ICE custody
By Emily Leayman
Published May 14, 2026 at 9:15AM
The ICE custody death memorial at Fairlington Presbyterian Church (via Fairlington Presbyterian Church/Facebook)
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Fairlington Presbyterian Church has created a memorial on its front lawn to remember people who have died in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody since 2025.
The church, located at 3846 King Street in the West End, dedicated the memorial Sunday (May 10). The memorial features posts representing each of 32 people who died in ICE custody from January 2025 to early January 2026. Another 18 names of people who died in ICE custody leading up to May 2026 are included in a brochure being distributed at the memorial. Some official causes of death are pending or disputed.
Gary Hughes, one of the governing elders at Fairlington Presbyterian Church, told ALXnow the memorial responds to a rapid increase in ICE custody deaths between 2024 and 2025.
“For a long time, faith communities — churches, temples, mosques, synagogues — have been places to initiate conversations about moral issues,” Hughes said. “We’re following along in that tradition in terms of trying to bring attention to this moral issue, not so much for us to try to give the community answers but to help create a community dialogue to find answers."
{snip}
Memorial at Alexandria church pays tribute to people who died in ICE custody
By Emily Leayman
Published May 14, 2026 at 9:15AM
The ICE custody death memorial at Fairlington Presbyterian Church (via Fairlington Presbyterian Church/Facebook)
1/3
Fairlington Presbyterian Church has created a memorial on its front lawn to remember people who have died in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody since 2025.
The church, located at 3846 King Street in the West End, dedicated the memorial Sunday (May 10). The memorial features posts representing each of 32 people who died in ICE custody from January 2025 to early January 2026. Another 18 names of people who died in ICE custody leading up to May 2026 are included in a brochure being distributed at the memorial. Some official causes of death are pending or disputed.
Gary Hughes, one of the governing elders at Fairlington Presbyterian Church, told ALXnow the memorial responds to a rapid increase in ICE custody deaths between 2024 and 2025.
“For a long time, faith communities — churches, temples, mosques, synagogues — have been places to initiate conversations about moral issues,” Hughes said. “We’re following along in that tradition in terms of trying to bring attention to this moral issue, not so much for us to try to give the community answers but to help create a community dialogue to find answers."
{snip}