Questions Arise Over Tajik National’s Escape from Psychiatric Facility

Northern Virginia Democrats are questioning why a Tajik national, who was under psychiatric care after killing his landlord, was allowed to leave the facility twice. Abdulloi Doniyor Toshpulodzoda managed to escape to Tajikistan after being taken on escorted visits to a Tajik embassy and an apartment in Alexandria. During these visits, he obtained a plane ticket and left the country.

Rep. Donald Beyer, representing the Virginia district that includes Alexandria and parts of Fairfax County, expressed concern over the incident. He noted a significant failure in the system that allowed Toshpulodzoda to evade custody and leave the U.S.

Beyer clarified that he does not view Fairfax County as a sanctuary jurisdiction for illegal immigrants. He defended the decision to house Toshpulodzoda in a psychiatric facility, emphasizing accountability within the U.S. before considering deportation.

“Deportation doesn’t seem sufficient punishment for someone who’s committed a major felony,” Beyer stated.

An additional perspective came from Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, who represents the neighboring Loudoun and Fauquier counties. He emphasized that U.S. laws should be applied to undocumented individuals committing crimes, suggesting a case-by-case approach. Subramanyam also highlighted the importance of accountability for both offenders and law enforcement officers.

Instances like this raise questions about the processes behind allowing psychiatric patients temporary passes and the potential need for stricter regulations. Laura Birnbaum, a spokesperson for the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney, stated that the office did not oppose Toshpulodzoda’s escorted embassy visit in 2024 but consistently argued against his full release.

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