Mother tells House Republicans system failed her as Fairfax DA is pressed on immigrant policies

Cheryl Minter, the mother of Stephanie Minter, told a House Republican hearing that "I'm here because a system failed my daughter," saying failures to act on warnings cost her family the life of her daughter.

The testimony came as lawmakers pressed Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano about his office's handling of cases involving immigrant suspects. Bill Melugin, the congressional correspondent who reported on the hearing, said the alleged suspect in Stephanie Minter's killing, Abdul Jalloh, had "more than 30 prior arrests" and that several charges against him had been dropped by Descano's office.

Rep. Jim Jordan questioned whether Descano's policies produce different outcomes for immigrants and U.S. citizens who commit the same crimes, saying the policy "seems to me" to allow a different plea or sentence for an immigrant. The broadcast quoted a reply stating the policy "in black and white" says an immigrant "will not get a better outcome than a US citizen." The exchange included a separate, heated demand for a yes-or-no answer about whether the public would be safer if the suspect were not in the country; a respondent did not provide the direct yes-or-no response the questioner sought.

Melugin also reported that language on Descano's campaign website that critics pointed to as evidence of preferential treatment for immigrants was deleted just weeks before the hearing.

The hearing assembled testimony and questioning about whether local prosecutorial policies and county law enforcement practices imperil public safety when they limit cooperation with immigration authorities. Minter's testimony framed the debate around the human cost of those policies; lawmakers focused on whether written policy or practice yields unequal treatment based on immigration status.

The broadcast noted that former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares attended the hearing and was expected to appear later on the program. The segment did not record a formal vote or committee decision during the portion aired.