Virginia Democrat Gov. Abigail Spanberger this week ordered state law enforcement agencies to end cooperation with federal immigration authorities, formally terminating agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
In Tuesday's executive directive, Spanberger ended so-called 287(g) agreements between ICE and multiple state agencies, including the Virginia State Police, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Wildlife Resources, and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.
Spanberger, who campaigned as a political moderate, said the agreements went too far in letting federal authorities direct state law enforcement activity.
"These Agreements improperly ceded discretion and authority over Virginia law enforcement to federal authorities," the order states. "I have full confidence that Virginia law enforcement agents are keeping Virginia safer when exercising their authority under Virginia law."
The governor said Virginia police will still enforce the law and may act when presented with a valid judicial warrant, but will no longer participate in ICE-led immigration enforcement efforts under the 287(g) program.
The federal program lets local and state officers, under ICE supervision, perform limited immigration enforcement functions — including identifying illegal aliens held in local jails to prevent their release back into communities.
Shortly after taking office in January, Spanberger also rescinded a previous executive order by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, that required state law enforcement and encouraged local police and sheriff's departments to deputize officers to act as ICE agents, according to her office.
Youngkin's now-rescinded order had instructed the Virginia State Police and the Department of Corrections to enter into 287(g) agreements and required local and regional jail authorities to fully cooperate with ICE.
"Governor Spanberger removed the directive that Virginia law enforcement agencies divert focus from their core responsibilities — investigating crimes, enforcing state and local laws, and keeping Virginians safe," the governor's office said in a statement.
Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
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