INTERVIEW – Supervisor PAT HERRITY for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (R-Springfield)

• Detailing how the situation in Fairfax County is similar to what’s happening in the region, Fairfax County Police Captain Paul Cleveland said there’s been a resurgence in all crimes. “Malicious wounding, assaults have gone up in every district,” Cleveland said. Suggestions from elected leaders and law enforcement to tackle the gang problem include intervention, prevention and education such as providing more after-school programs and teaching parents what to look for. “We’ve had about 1,500 undocumented minor children put in our school systems over the past couple years. So, [these] problems shouldn’t really be too surprising,” Supervisor Pat Herrity of the Springfield District said. Much like what happens in Prince William County, Herrity suggested federal resources be sought to support standalone schools for undocumented immigrants — many of whom can’t read or write in their own language, Herrity said. Already this year, Herritty said, Jeb Stuart High School in Falls Church welcomed 47 children from Guatemala and El Salvador — the home of gang MS-13.