New Virginia governor rescinds executive order requiring state cooperation with ICE

( Just the News )

Virginia Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger reversed a high-profile immigration enforcement policy established by outgoing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. 

Spanberger, sworn in earlier in the day as Virginia’s 75th governor and the first woman to hold the office, signed an executive action rescinding Executive Order 47—a directive issued last year that had authorized Virginia State Police and Department of Corrections personnel to assist federal immigration authorities under a 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

The repeal ends formal cooperation between state law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement efforts.

“State and local law enforcement should not be required to divert their limited resources to enforce federal civil immigration laws,” Spanberger said on Saturday. “It is a responsibility of federal law enforcement. Virginia, state and local law enforcement officers must be able to focus on their core responsibilities, investigating crime and community policing.”

Immigrant advocacy groups welcomed the move as a step toward more inclusive communities, arguing that illegal immigrants won't live in fear of deportation. Former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares slammed the decision to rescind the order.

"Within the few first hours of Democrats having complete control in Richmond, they have made it easier for illegal immigrants who commit crimes against Virginians to remain in the Commonwealth by repealing EO 47," he wrote on social media. 

"By directing our local law enforcement to stop working with federal law enforcement agencies, our streets have become less safe with a stroke of the pen," he added.

He continued, saying, "Mark my words, there will be Virginians who will be robbed, raped and murdered as a result of this anti-public safety executive order.  No one should be surprised."