Mother Demands Accountability Before Congress After Daughter’s Fatal Stabbing by Illegal Immigrant

Stephanie Minter’s mother, Cheryl Minter, appeared before Congress on May 14, demanding justice for her daughter and reforms to the legal system. Stephanie, 41, was allegedly stabbed to death by Abdul Jalloh, an immigrant living in the U.S. illegally, in Fairfax County in February this year.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Jalloh, 32, is a citizen of Sierra Leone who has been living in the U.S. illegally since 2012. DHS officials said local authorities in Virginia released Jalloh despite his lengthy criminal history. Prosecutors said he had previously faced more than 30 charges, including r--e and assault, before he allegedly killed Stephanie.

Cheryl grew emotional as she testified before the congressional subcommittee on Thursday. “I am not here for politics; I am here for accountability. I am here because the system failed my daughter. If not for these failures, I could be sharing a cup of coffee with Stephanie this morning, rather than speaking with you all today,” she said as tears rolled down her face.

The mother alleged that local authorities prioritized protecting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally over citizens. “Care for one group should not be a danger for another,” she said, adding, “Make changes, take responsibility, protect your community, because no mother should ever have to wake up to this nightmare.”

Stephanie was standing at a local bus stop when she was stabbed to death on Feb. 23, 2026. Police found her suffering from multiple stab wounds and identified the suspect through surveillance footage. A day later, Jalloh was apprehended and charged with murder.

The Department of Justice has accused Steve Descano of giving preferential treatment to defendants living in the U.S. illegally, including Jalloh, to help them avoid deportation. The department has also launched an investigation into him.

“This heinous criminal is a perfect example of why we need cooperation from sanctuary jurisdictions and the importance of third-country removals for the safety of the American people,” DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has said it tried to deport Jalloh in 2020; however, a judge ordered that he could not be sent back to his home country of Sierra Leone.

On the other hand, Descano argued that it was ICE that had released Jalloh back into the community after he spent nearly two years in federal custody. Descano, who also testified during Thursday’s hearing, was grilled by House Republicans for allegedly protecting undocumented immigrants.

In his defense, the Commonwealth's Attorney pointed out that Fairfax County remains one of the safest places in the country. He also offered condolences to Stephanie’s mother and said his office is prosecuting Abdul Jalloh for the victim’s murder.

When questioned about why so many previous violent charges against Jalloh were dropped, Descano stated his office often lacked cooperation from victims, who failed to appear in court to testify. Jalloh is currently being held at a Fairfax County jail without bond.