Shannon Taylor, now the Democratic nominee in the race for Virginia’s First Congressional district, once endorsed progressive prosecutorial blueprints, advocating for less incarceration and more diversity as a Henrico County commonwealth attorney — some of the same «Democratic values» that ended in tragedy in other parts of Virginia.

Shortly after coming into the role in 2012, Taylor fired seven prosecutors under her.

«I stated publicly that the office needs to have more diversity and I’m going to keep to that public statement,» Taylor said in an interview ahead of the firings.

Her track record is sparking criticism that she used her role to prioritize ideological and political views at the expense of public safety. It’s also clashing with portrayals from her campaign, highlighting her work as a tough-on-crime figure as she looks to win over a Republican-leaning district.

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Taylor highlighted her work as she topped a crowded field of Democratic candidates vying to challenge Republican incumbent Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va.

«As Henrico’s top prosecutor for the last 14 years, Shannon has tried thousands of cases and put violent criminals, drug traffickers and abusers behind bars,» Taylor states on her campaign website. «She has a record of shutting down fraudsters trying to take advantage of working families and locking up violent criminals who threaten our safety.»

But that hasn’t always been the appearance she’s given.

After her seven firings, Taylor faced blowback for trying to hire a woman named Misty Whitehead as a police oversight prosecutor. However, before the role could be made official, social media posts from Whitehead surfaced that seemingly showed a pattern of attacking police.

Taylor faced backlash from the town’s county manager over her selected candidate.

«A county manager can’t tell a commonwealth’s attorney who to hire, but he can recommend whether or not local funds are included to supplement that salary. And in this case, I absolutely will not do it under any circumstances,» County Manager John Vithoulkas said at the time.

Whitehead had a history of voicing concerns about police behavior and social justice that raised concerns for at least one county official, according to local reports.

Taylor defended her pick, telling local outlets that she believed the posts were «thoughtful analysis of the current events we are all living through.»

Taylor also has ties to similarly-minded prosecutors in other counties — some of which entered the public eye recently due to tragic circumstances.

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Abdul Jalloh, 32, is accused of killing Stephanie Minter, 41, at a bus stop in Virginia. (Fox 5 DC)

In Fairfax County, Virginia, news broke that Abdul Jalloh, a 32-year-old illegal alien from Sierra Leone, stabbed a Virginia resident to death at a bus stop despite over 30 prior arrests and a known tendency for violent behavior.

Jalloh’s criminal record included charges of rape, malicious wounding, assault, drug possession, identity theft, trespassing, larceny and firing a weapon.

Even so, prosecutor Steve Descano had dropped many of them, prompting concern and outrage from lawmakers.

«You dismissed the case, and it’s shameful,» Rep. Brad Knott, R-N.C. said at a hearing where Descano was summoned to Congress to explain a series of similar cases.

Knott had been highlighting one such instance involving a child predator.

«When you dismiss a case, what happens to that defendant? He walks free. A disgusting, perverted individual preying on children, that you dismissed,» Knott said.

Long before Descano’s time in the spotlight, Taylor had endorsed Descano, supporting his bid to become county prosecutor in 2019, citing shared outlooks.

«I am excited to endorse Steve Descano for Fairfax County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney because I know he will prioritize the same Democratic values we all share, making Fairfax a safe and just place for everyone and I am looking forward to working with him,» Taylor wrote.

Taylor and Descano would go on to champion their shared values in a 2021 letter to the Biden Administration.

In it, the two joined 100 other district and county attorneys in championing a set of «21 principles for the 21st-Century prosecutor.» The authors claimed that «tough on crime policies» had been «anathema to justice,» championed an end to mandatory minimums and three-strike laws, advocated for taking immigration status into consideration when negotiating sentences and plea deals, and opposed calling rapists «rapists,» drug dealers «drug dealers,» and convicted criminals «felons» or «inmates.»

«A number of elected reform-minded prosecutors are boldly redefining what it means to be a prosecutor,» the letter states.

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Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, left, and Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Ann Kincaid, right, testify before Congress. (Tom Williams/Getty Images)

At least one Republican onlooker blasted Taylor’s record.

«She spent her time reshaping the prosecutor’s office around identity politics, pushing a far-left agenda that put woke activism ahead of public safety, and fighting to turn Virginia into a far-left hellscape,» Emma Hall, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee (RNC), said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

«Instead of prosecuting criminals and making Virginia safer, DEI queen Shannon Taylor chose to be a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant.»

Having secured the Democratic nomination, Taylor now heads to the general election on Nov. 3. Wittman, the district’s incumbent, last won re-election in 2024 in a 56.3% to 43.5% victory over Democratic challenger Leslie Mehta, an attorney.

La argentina que trabajaba como niñera en Estados Unidos y que había sido arrestada por autoridades de inmigración el mes pasado en el aeropuerto de Filadelfia, consiguió la libertad bajo una fianza de 10.000 dólares en una audiencia este viernes.

La pesadilla para Iliana Lick, de 30 años, comenzó el 11 de julio en el aeropuerto de esa ciudad de Pennsylvania, cuando intentaba pasar la seguridad para abordar un vuelo rumbo a Kansas City, donde la Selección argentina jugaría el partido contra Suiza por los cuartos de final del Mundial.

Pero agentes del servicio de inmigración de Estados Unidos la detuvieron y la llevaron a un centro de inmigrantes en Filadelfia donde permaneció arrestada y luego trasladada a una instalación de detención en New México. Este viernes tuvo una audiencia para tratar su caso.

El novio de Lick, Steven Malchiore, escribió en la página de GoFundMe, el sitio donde buscaban fondos para poder afrontar los costos: “Hoy finalmente recibimos una noticia muy alentadora: a Iliana le concedieron la libertad bajo fianza, fijada en $10.000”, señaló.

“Después de semanas de incertidumbre, demoras y frustración, este es un paso enorme. Sentimos un gran alivio y estamos profundamente agradecidos de que el juez le haya dado a Iliana la posibilidad de recuperar su libertad mientras continúa su proceso migratorio”, agregó.

“Todavía quedan algunos pasos administrativos y logísticos antes de que pueda salir, así que Iliana todavía no está en casa. Estamos haciendo todo lo posible para completar el proceso de la fianza cuanto antes y lograr que vuelva con las personas que la quieren”, dijo.

Agregó que “Iliana se mantuvo esperanzada durante todo este proceso, incluso en los momentos más difíciles” y agradeció a la gente que la había apoyado. Igualmente advirtió: “Esto no significa que el caso migratorio de Iliana haya terminado, pero hoy logramos un avance muy importante”.

El arresto había sido confirmado por las autoridades del Departamento de Homeland Security, el ministerio que rige sobre las actividades de Control de Inmigración y Aduanas (ICE, por sus siglas en inglés).

Sobre los motivos de la detención de Lick un portavoz dijo a Clarín: “Ingresó en Estados Unidos el 17 de marzo de 2023 y se quedó más tiempo de su visado. Lick permanecerá bajo custodia de ICE a la espera del resultado de sus procedimientos migratorios. Para que quede claro, la autorización de trabajo o una solicitud pendiente NO confieren estatus legal en Estados Unidos”.

Según dijo el novio, con el que Lick mantenía una relación de dos años, ella había ingresado legalmente en el país tras obtener una visa. Señaló que ella esperaba conseguir un visado de trabajo y que tenía una solicitud pendiente para quedarse en el país.

“Nunca faltó a una audiencia, nunca cometió ningún delito y nunca dejó de pagar los impuestos correspondientes. Resultó sorprendente que la arrestaran”, señaló Malchiore a CBS.

La abogada de inmigración de Lick, Ana Ferreira, dijo que la detención fue una sorpresa. «Es impactante. Llevo 11 años haciendo esto y nunca nos habíamos encontrado con nada parecido antes», dijo a NBC.

Ferreira dijo que personas en circunstancias similares a la de Lick habían podido viajar anteriormente por el país sin incidentes, pero que recientemente ha visto más detenciones de este tipo. Según Ferreira, Lick «nunca estuvo ni un solo día ilegal» en Estados Unidos. «Estaba haciendo todo lo posible para intentar permanecer legalmente», explicó.

Las autoridades del ICE han extendido sus operativos contra los inmigrantes en los aeropuertos y arrestan a personas que consideran sospechosas. En las últimas semanas se registran entre 20 y 40 detenciones por día. Antes del gobierno de Donald Trump, tener una visa en trámite no era considerado un problema, pero ahora la política se ha endurecido.

Otro argentino detenido en un aeropuerto fue el futbolista Matías Pourrain, que fue arrestado en el aeropuerto de Fort Lauderdale (al norte de Miami) cuando iba a viajar a Los Angeles y ahora está detenido en un centro de Miami. Sus allegados afirman que estaba en EE.UU. con permiso de trabajo y que no hizo nada ilegal.

El mes pasado, ICE detuvo a más de 46.000 personas por supuestas violaciones migratorias como entrar ilegalmente en Estados Unidos o exceder el tiempo de sus visados, según datos del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional.

The estimated 72,000 Moroccan migrants who flooded into the Spanish city of Ceuta within 24 hours is shining the spotlight on Europe’s massive problem of illegal and legal migration and the threat of growing Islamic terrorism.

Mideast and European commentators who closely follow Islamic extremism across the continent say Europe’s political class needs to tackle the origins of radical Islamism to prevent terrorism.

According to a July Europol (formerly known as the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation) report, Spain recorded the highest number of arrests (117) for «jihadist terrorism-related offenses» within the European Union during 2025.

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Some Spanish outlets claimed that the Spanish Civil Guard and police identified «about a dozen» individuals previously deported from Spain for suspected terror-related offenses among those who entered Ceuta last week. However, Euro News reported that Spain’s interior ministry said it has not confirmed those reports. 

Quoting the ministry, it stated that «The Spanish public and the people of Ceuta can be confident that the arrivals on 30 July do not pose a threat to public security.» The report also cited the interior ministry as saying that so far this year 82 people had been arrested for offenses related to jihadist terrorism.

Lorenzo Vidino, Director of the Program on Extremism at The George Washington University, and expert on Islamism in Europe and North America, told Fox News Digital, «This is Europe. This is the way it has been for the last 15 years, with some ebbs and flows.» He said about the new Europol report that «It is more in line with the last 10 years. Europe has sadly learned to live with this reality.»

British political commentator and Mideast expert, Tom Gross, told Fox News Digital: «Europe’s ruling classes need to be honest. It is not racist to point out the obvious: that most terrorism in Western Europe today is being fueled by radical Islamic mosques and teachers.»

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Police officers stand near a vehicle crashed into a tree after driving into a crowd near Berlin’s annual Pride event, in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

He added, «Leaders in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Egypt acknowledge this. Why can’t Western leaders?»

Gross said, «Politicians such as new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez, need to stop fueling the propaganda of radical Muslims by implying that there has been some kind of genocide against Muslims in Gaza, when there has been nothing of the sort.»

He continued, «If they really want to help push back radical Islam, European leaders should be assisting, not criticizing, those in Washington and elsewhere calling for the downfall of Iran’s Islamic dictatorship.»

In April, the U.K. raised its national terror threat level to «severe» following an antisemitic attack in London when a Somali immigrant stabbed two men. A «Severe» warning, according to authorities means another terrorist attack is considered «highly likely» in the next six months.

A spokesperson for London’s Mayor Khan told Fox News Digital that «The Mayor has invested £16 million (approxmiately $21.5 million) – more than any other Mayor – to support grassroots community groups to stand up to hate and intolerance. This includes £6 million (approximately $8 million) through his Shared Endeavour Fund to give Londoners the tools and skills to tackle extremism.»

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Law enforcement patrol immediately following a stabbing attack in Paris on July 27, 2026. (Kenzo Tribouillard/Getty Images)

Late last month, the alleged Islamist State terrorist, the 21-year-old German-Lebanese man, Abdul Ballout, drove a van into the Berlin Pride Parade event, murdering one woman and injuring nearly 30 people. The German authorities had released Ballout despite his recent conviction related to supporting the Islamic State.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told public broadcaster ZDF during an interview that in light of the 21-year-old suspect’s conviction and record of backing the Islamic State, it did not make sense that the man was roaming free.

«You can assume that it certainly would have made sense to put this person in custody,» he noted.

Khan’s spokesperson also cited an X Post from the Mayor following the Berlin Pride attack: «My thoughts are with everyone affected by the horrific attack in Berlin and their families. This appalling act of violence has no place in our society. London stands in solidarity with Berlin’s LGBTQ+ community. This is why Pride matters. Those who seek to spread hatred and division will never win.»

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Firefighters are seen tackling a blaze at Highfield Road in the Golders Green neighborhood of London, following an arson attack on four charity ambulances belonging to the Jewish Community volunteer Ambulance Service. (PA/PA Images via Getty Images)

A new report by Germany’s federal intelligence that documents threats to the constitutional order estimates that there are roughly about 28,000 members of Germany’s Islamist scene. Approximately 9,110 are currently assessed to have an «orientation to violence. «The type of violence is defined as jihadi violence.»

Germany’s federal interior ministry, which publishes the annual domestic intelligence threat report, notes that crimes attributed to «religious ideology» have climbed from 134 in 2022 to 998 last year. Radical Islamist crimes are reportedly understood to make up the main portion of the «religious ideology» category.

Germany’s neighbor, France, experienced another stabbing just days after the attack in Germany. A suspect reportedly stabbed three women in Paris and declared as people captured him after the attack, «it is Allah who commanded me.»

Vidino said, «The incident in Paris it seems one of the cases» regarding the how an attack is classified: «Is it terrorism? Is it a crazy guy? Often times, Europeans play down the ideological motive and cite mental health. Some countries tend to do it more than others. Most Europeans go for downplaying of the ideological component.»

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Austria’s intelligence agency announced in May on its website that it arrested a group of suspected Islamist terrorists, which included five males aged between 14 and 45 and one 16-year-old female. «The individuals concerned are suspected of having committed offenses related to Islamist extremism and terrorism in Austria, for example through membership of a terrorist organization, incitement to terrorist offenses, dissemination of IS [Islamic State] propaganda, and approval of terrorist offenses,» wrote the Austrian agency.

In June, Swedish authorities arrested a teenage boy who pledged allegiance to the Islamist State and idolized suicide bombers, according to Swedish media. He issued death threats to students at school and showed pictures of beheaded people.

Nervana Mahmoud, a British-Egyptian medical doctor who has written extensively about Islamist terrorism and indoctrination, told Fox News Digital that «The current challenge facing Europe is, in many ways, a battle over Islamist extremism and its place within Western societies. To address the threat at its source, European governments need to focus on preventing radicalization and disrupting foreign funding and ideological networks that fuel extremist movements. Without tackling these root causes, the risk of future terrorist attacks will remain.»

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Map depicting Spain, Morocco, and Spain’s Cueta, which borders Morocco. (2026 EarthStar Geographics, OpenMapTiles, OpenStreetMap contributors)

Mahmoud said, «The United States should learn from Europe’s experience rather than simply criticize it. It has an opportunity to strengthen prevention efforts early by fostering a shared American identity within immigrant communities, disrupting foreign funding that may promote extremist influence through universities and think tanks, and working with Muslim Americans who reject Islamism and uphold democratic values. Long-term success will require not only strong security measures but also sustained efforts to prevent radicalization before it takes hold.»

The United Kingdom’s judicial system recorded a series of convictions of Islamist terrorists in July. Abdullah Bin Yasir was imprisoned for two and a half years after admitting he had bomb-making guides linked to an Islamic State-aligned entity. The construction of bomb material was designed to carry out a terrorist attack.

Late last month, in Wigston, Britain, the authorities arrested a 27-year-old man for supporting the Islamic State.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service, the 31-year-old Mohammad Bashir «pleaded guilty to preparing an act of terrorism» against a British defense target.

A spokesperson for the British Home Office told Fox News Digital, «The United Kingdom has one of the most robust counter-terrorism systems in the world. We remain committed to ensuring our Police and Security Services have the tools and powers they need to prevent the spread of violent ideologies and keep the country safe.»

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits the Hatzola Northwest independent ambulance base after yesterday’s terrorist incident, on April 30, 2026 in Golders Green, England. A 45-year-old British-Somali man was arrested yesterday, after stabbing two Jewish men, Shloime Rand and Moshe Shine, in a terrorist attack in Golders Green. Both victims are in stable condition, and the suspect was caught by police after being tasered. The government has since pledged £25 million to improve security for the Jewish community following the incident. (James Smith/Sam Snap/Getty Images)

The spokesperson added, «This includes a wide range of terrorist offenses and specialized powers designed to risk, support prosecution, and strengthen management of terrorist offenders. Islamist terrorism remains the primary domestic threat to the United Kingdom, accounting for roughly three quarters of the Security Service’s casework.»

Northern continental Europe is also facing a serious Jihadi terrorist threat. According to a late May Danish Security and Intelligence Service statement, the «CTA [Center for Terror Analysis in Denmark] assesses that the terrorist threat from militant Islamists remains at the level of significant.»

Vidino said there has been a silver lining since the outbreak of the Islamic State terrorist attacks in Europe. «I would say I do think most European law enforcement agencies and security forces have gotten better over the years. When the big ISIS radicalization took place, small countries were completely unprepared to deal with it.» He cited Switzerland, Austria and the Scandinavian countries.

«They did not have legal capabilities and mindset. That has changed and it is not perfect.»

Fox News Digital sent multiple press queries to the Spanish government.