Virginia’s New Move: Boosting Immigration Control Through ICE Partnership

Typewriter typing "Executive Order" on paper.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin is taking bold immigration enforcement action by ordering state police and corrections officers to partner with ICE, creating a framework to identify, detain, and remove criminal illegal immigrants from the Commonwealth.

Quick Takes

Youngkin signed Executive Order 47 directing Virginia State Police and Department of Corrections to enter formal 287(g) agreements with ICE
State troopers will be federally deputized through a Task Force model to identify and apprehend criminal illegal immigrants
Corrections officers will be trained as Designated Immigration Officers to perform immigration functions in jails
Local and regional jails across Virginia are directed to fully cooperate with ICE operations
946 inmates currently in Virginia correctional facilities have open immigration detainers

Virginia Strengthens Immigration Enforcement

Governor Glenn Youngkin has taken decisive action to enhance immigration enforcement in Virginia by signing Executive Order 47, which establishes formal collaboration between state law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. The order creates two distinct programs under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act: a Task Force Model for Virginia State Police (VSP) and a Jail Enforcement Model for the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC). These agreements authorize state personnel to perform certain immigration enforcement functions typically reserved for federal officers.

The Task Force Model will enable specially trained and federally deputized state troopers to identify and apprehend criminal illegal immigrants throughout the Commonwealth. Meanwhile, the Jail Enforcement Model will train corrections officers as Designated Immigration Officers, allowing them to process incarcerated individuals who may be subject to removal proceedings. Together, these initiatives represent a significant expansion of immigration enforcement capabilities at the state level.

BREAKING: "Virginia’s Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin has directed the state’s police, sheriffs, and jails to cooperate with President Donald Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency."

"The state’s jails hold almost 1,000 deportable migrants, and “nine out of… pic.twitter.com/sVeOglxWv7

— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) February 27, 2025

Governor Takes Stand Against “Sanctuary” Policies

In announcing the executive order, Youngkin emphasized that Virginia is not a “sanctuary state” and reaffirmed his commitment to upholding federal immigration laws stating “As Governor, protecting our citizens is my foremost responsibility and today we are taking action that will make Virginia safer by removing dangerous criminal illegal immigrants from our Commonwealth. This order will allow Virginia State Police and the Department of Corrections to partner with President Trump’s administration on federal immigration enforcement. Dangerous criminal illegal immigrants should not be let back into our communities to assault, rape, and murder. They should be sent back where they came from.” The directive instructs the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to ensure that local and regional jails throughout Virginia fully cooperate with ICE operations. This represents a clear stance against sanctuary policies that limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.

The governor has previously attempted to include “no sanctuary cities” language in the state budget and has expressed intentions to withhold funding from localities that refuse to comply with ICE. The executive order went into effect immediately upon signing, setting Virginia on a path that aligns with the immigration enforcement priorities of the Trump administration, which sought to expand Section 287(g) agreements nationwide.

Concerns and Opposition

The enhanced immigration enforcement measures have drawn criticism from immigration attorneys and advocacy groups who warn of potential negative consequences. Critics argue the program could lead to racial profiling and damage trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement, potentially making immigrants less likely to report crimes or cooperate with police investigations. Some attorneys have pointed to previous implementations of similar programs as evidence of potential issues.

Critics have also raised concerns about potential economic impacts of the policy. Attorney Alexander Miller referenced Prince William County’s previous implementation of a similar program, claiming it cost taxpayers an estimated $23 million over five years. Opponents suggest businesses and immigrants might leave Virginia in response to the heightened enforcement environment, as reportedly happened in other jurisdictions that implemented similar policies.

Strong Support from State Leadership

Despite the criticism, the executive order has garnered strong support from Virginia’s leadership. Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears endorsed the measure, citing public safety concerns. Virginia State Police Superintendent Sean Hanley also expressed support, noting that the agency “frequently partners with other agencies to support the Governor’s initiatives on violent crime.” Officials point to the 946 inmates currently in Virginia corrections facilities with open immigration detainers as evidence of the need for enhanced enforcement measures.

Virginia joins other states like Georgia in pursuing formal collaboration with ICE on immigration enforcement. The implementation of Youngkin’s executive order represents a significant shift in Virginia’s approach to immigration enforcement, with implications for public safety, community relations, and the state’s political landscape. As the program rolls out, both supporters and critics will be watching closely to evaluate its impacts on Virginia communities.