LURAY, Va. — Page County Sheriff Chad Cubbage took to Facebook yesterday to push back against news reports and social media claims surrounding a controversial June immigration operation.
On September 9, 2026, Cubbage issued a lengthy statement accompanied by a “Rumor vs. Fact” graphic defending his office.
The unusual public response follows weeks of regional media coverage of a June 12 immigration enforcement effort, which raised questions about the role of the Page County Sheriff’s Office in the operation, and specifically its characterization of one Venezuelan man who was taken into custody.
In the AI graphic, the sheriff’s office disputes four claims it characterizes as “rumors,” including statements about criminal charges previously filed against the subject, his immigration status and how federal authorities characterized his alleged connection to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
The graphic also identifies a September 1 report by regional public radio station WMRA as one of the “rumors.”
That report examined statements Cubbage made in an August 25 Facebook video and compared them with firsthand information from ICE, Baltimore prosecutors, court records and federal court proceedings.
WMRA is a NPR affiliate licensed in Harrisonburg, and operated by James Madison University. Because it operates under the editorial standard of National Public Radio, the station follows strict rules regarding factual accuracy, transparency, and accountability.
Independent media watchdog organizations (such as Media Bias/Fact Check and AllSides) evaluate NPR and its local affiliates as having high factual reporting accuracy.
In Wednesday’s Facebook post, Cubbage said his office generally does not respond to “social media rumors” but decided to address what he referred to as “misinformation.”
FROM THE DESK OF SHERIFF CHAD CUBBAGE:
We don’t usually chase rumors on social media, and we’re not going to start now. But when misinformation is being passed around as fact and used to discredit our deputies, this office, or me, it’s worth setting the record straight.
Following the June 12 ICE operation and the apprehension of a Tren de Aragua gang member, a lot of inaccurate information began circulating online.
The information in this flyer was provided directly to us by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
We’re not perfect. If we make a mistake, we’ll own it and correct it. But in this case, the information we shared came directly from the federal agency involved, and we stand by it.
Our focus is the same as it has always been - keeping Page County safe, treating people fairly, and giving our community accurate information.
Ask questions. Check the facts. Don’t let rumors discredit good officers and good police work.
We appreciate the continued support of our community and everyone who recognizes the work our deputies do every day.
Cubbage’s latest account differs in several respects from statements he made publicly in August.
In the August 25 video, Cubbage described the man as a Tren de Aragua member and a “very high-ranking official” who “will be sentenced to life in jail.”
ICE later identified the man to WMRA as Brian Jesus Rodriguez Salas, 31, a Venezuelan citizen.
ICE said Rodriguez Salas had previously been arrested in Maryland on felony and misdemeanor charges but said those charges were later not prosecuted.
Cubbage’s latest graphic states that all of the charges were marked nolle prosequi, meaning prosecutors stopped pursuing them at that time, and emphasized that such a disposition is not the same as an acquittal or not-guilty verdict.
The Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, however, gave WMRA a different account, saying prosecutors took Rodriguez Salas to trial September 9, 2025, and a jury found him not guilty.
The PCSO graphic also states that Rodriguez Salas “was never ordered deported” and that his immigration case remains pending.
However, WMRA reported September 1 that immigration court records showed his case ended August 11 with a deportation order and that he had until September 10 to appeal.
The September 9 PCSO graphic refers to the Rodriguez Salas incident as a “Tren de Aragua Gang Member Apprehension.”
Hundreds of Facebook reactions and comments soon appeared in response to Wednesday’s PCSO statement.
Some expressed support for the department overall, but many had questions.
When asked about the AI image method of communication, a PCSO representative replied, “The table format was created by AI but the data within the table was provided by Homeland Security Investigations/ICE Chantilly Field Office.”
An independent statement has not yet been released by that office.
According to a recent WHSV-TV report, the PCSO requested more than $107,000 from ICE for transportation and equipment related to its partnership program with the agency. At the time of the report, the news station was unable to verify if the funds had been received.
Circumstances surrounding the arrest of Rodriguez Salas remain a mystery.
It is unclear why he was in Page County. And details about events that led to his apprehension have not been disclosed.
A June 2026 ICE report merely refers to him as an “alleged” gang member who was only “encountered by” the PCSO.
The PCSO graphic, however, claims that ICE has confirmed that Rodriguez Salas is an active Tren de Aragua gang member.
Cubbage said that his office stands by the information it has released.
August 25, 2026 PCSO video statement from Sheriff Chad Cubbage:
WMRA article mentioned in this story:
Alleged gang member detained by ICE in Page County was acquitted of previous charges