Virginia took a hard turn away from ICE, and the Trump administration may not stay quiet

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has ordered state agencies to sever all existing partnerships with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, formally ending the commonwealth’s participation in federal civil immigration enforcement programs. As reported by The Washington Post, the move dissolves Virginia’s involvement in the 287(g) program.

The decision follows an executive order Spanberger signed shortly after taking office on January 17, rescinding a mandate from former governor Glenn Youngkin that required state law enforcement agencies to enter into cooperation agreements with ICE. Under the new directive, the Virginia State Police, corrections officials, and other agencies have been instructed to cancel any remaining agreements tied to federal immigration enforcement.

Spanberger said the issue centers on authority and public trust, noting that the 287(g) program requires state officials to operate under ICE supervision. She said state law enforcement should remain under the leadership of their own agencies and warned that involvement in civil immigration enforcement undermines community confidence in police.

The move drew swift political backlash as the enforcement debate escalated

Republican lawmakers in Richmond quickly criticized the decision, arguing it could harm public safety. House Minority Leader Terry G. Kilgore said the governor’s actions weaken cooperation that previously helped remove dangerous individuals from communities. Similar scrutiny of federal enforcement actions has appeared in recent reporting on an ICE arrest of a police recruit.

Spanberger rejected that characterization, drawing a distinction between cooperation on criminal matters and civil immigration enforcement. She said Virginia law enforcement will continue to assist federal authorities when judicial warrants are involved, but emphasized that civil immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility.

The governor also said her administration reviewed the amount of time Virginia State Police spent on 287(g) activities under the previous administration and found it to be minimal. She argued that ending the agreements would free up resources for core law enforcement duties rather than diminish public safety.

Immigrant rights organizations welcomed the decision. Luis Aguilar, Virginia director of CASA, said stepped-up enforcement under previous policies had discouraged crime victims from contacting police and eroded trust within immigrant communities. Debate over a broader national conversation about federal priorities, including coverage of Trump’s proposed election changes.

Virginia joins a growing list of states pushing back against the 287(g) program. Maryland’s General Assembly has passed legislation banning such agreements, and similar measures are under consideration in Hawaii, New Mexico, and New York.

Asked whether the move could prompt retaliation from the Trump administration through increased ICE activity in Virginia, Spanberger said she had not communicated with the White House. She reiterated that the state’s withdrawal from ICE partnerships was final, saying Virginia law enforcement would no longer be directed by federal immigration authorities.