CBBT checkpoint aimed at human trafficking, not immigration enforcement

Pictured: an image posted to the “RVA ICE SCREAM” Facebook page. The group is described as an “Ice Sightings Report Group”. The caption read in part: “This is on the Eastern Shore side of the CBBT… this trap will get anyone coming from the Norfolk side.”

In light of recent, highly politically charged events, several social media posts claiming Immigration Enforcement operations took place Wednesday evening on the Eastern Shore at the north toll plaza of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Contrary to these claims on the internet, Wednesday night’s checkpoint was not immigration related, but a common, multi-agency operation aimed at reducing human trafficking.

According to Tom Anderson, Deputy Executive Director of the District the exercise was led by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Police Department in coordination with multiple federal, state, and local agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Air Marshals, Transportation Security Administration, Virginia Beach Police Department Bomb Squad, Norfolk Police Department Bomb Squad, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the Department of Homeland Security. Approximately 45 officers participated in the operation.

According to Anderson, the exercise focused on the apprehension of individuals involved in human trafficking and drug-related offenses. The operation included visible checks of all southbound vehicles and random vehicle screenings supported by K-9 units. Informational flyers were distributed to motorists during the exercise to explain the activity.

“It was not a specific ICE event like we’ve all seen in the news out of Minneapolis,” Anderson said. “This was the same type of exercise that we’ve been doing periodically for years.”

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is designated as critical infrastructure, and Anderson said the District has partnered with federal, state, and local agencies to conduct similar exercises since 2009. The operations began after the District was approached by the Transportation Security Administration and have included both land-based and marine-based activities. Since that time, approximately 25 such exercises have been conducted.

The exercises are intended to enhance security readiness while also strengthening coordination and relationships among participating agencies. Anderson emphasized that the operation was planned approximately six months in advance and that there is no credible information indicating a specific threat to the Bridge-Tunnel at this time.

Motorists who traveled through the facility during the operation may have experienced brief delays as a result of the security checks.