Virginia state agencies will no longer enter into cooperation agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) announced in a new executive order. The move is aimed at maintaining public trust in the state’s law enforcement agencies.
“Here in the commonwealth, we want to make sure we’re making a clear line in the sand about what is expected of our law enforcement officials,” Spanberger said during a brief press conference Wednesday.
The order follows the governor’s earlier repeal of requirements for Virginia law enforcement officials to participate in Section 287(g) agreements, which allow ICE to deputize state officials to carry out immigration enforcement duties. Currently, 39 states have agreements under this law, though several—including Maryland, Hawaii, New Mexico, and New York—are considering bans.
Spanberger stressed that Virginia law enforcement “does not engage in fear-based policing, enforcement theater, or actions that create barriers to people seeking assistance in their time of need.” She noted that the order does not affect collaborations with other federal law enforcement agencies, and state officials will continue to honor judicial warrants.
The governor also cited recent incidents in Minnesota, where federal immigration operations led to the deaths of two individuals, as a catalyst for reexamining ICE’s practices.
“Sadly, the bad tactics, the bad training, the bad vetting that we have seen or witnessed or perceived in places like Minnesota are degrading trust in law enforcement,” Spanberger said.
She concluded, “I want to draw a very clear line in the sand and say, ‘I have strong trust in the law enforcement agencies of Virginia, and this is why.' That trust is based on the principles and values they uphold, and the expectation that there be accountability when they don’t.”
QUESTION OF THE DAY
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