Richmond, Va. – February 27, 2025 – Virginia immigration advocates have voiced strong opposition to a new executive order issued by Governor Glenn Youngkin, which directs state police and corrections officers to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts. The order, known as Executive Order 47, will enable Virginia State Police (VSP) to form a task force with ICE, deputizing state troopers to help identify and apprehend what the governor describes as “dangerous criminal illegal immigrants.”
The executive order also extends to the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC), which will train a select group of officers to become Designated Immigration Officers (DIOs). These officers will support ICE in enforcing federal immigration laws across the state. The order further instructs Virginia’s Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to reach out to local jail directors and law enforcement officials, requesting confirmation of their cooperation with ICE’s enforcement initiatives.
Governor Youngkin, in a statement released with the order, emphasized that this collaboration is essential for public safety. “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,” Youngkin said. He framed the order as a necessary step in combating violent crime and upholding public safety.
However, the order has sparked immediate backlash from immigration advocacy groups and civil rights organizations. Christian Martinez Lemus, a research and policy analyst with CASA Virginia, an immigration advocacy group, expressed deep concerns about the potential consequences of the executive order. “There’s going to be a bunch of bad things happening, coming from this executive order,” Lemus stated, urging the governor to reconsider his position. “We’re asking the governor to have a better change of heart.”
The order also invokes Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which has allowed ICE to partner with local and state law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws since 1996. Previously, Prince William County had a 287(g) agreement with ICE, but it ended in 2020. Advocates argue that such collaborations disproportionately target immigrant communities and people of color, contributing to a climate of fear and mistrust between these communities and law enforcement.
“The negative effects of 287(g) are well-documented,” Lemus said. “Whether someone was an immigrant or just a person of color, they were often unfairly targeted under this program.” He added that these types of initiatives undermine trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities, making it more difficult for individuals to feel safe or report crimes.
The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) confirmed that it would implement the directives outlined in the executive order. Kyle Gibson, a spokesperson for VADOC, said the department would work quickly to carry out the governor’s vision. “The VADOC and its more than 11,000 employees remain committed to ensuring long-term public safety for all Virginians,” Gibson said.
The Virginia State Police (VSP) also issued a statement acknowledging the new directive. Colonel Matthew D. Hanley, Superintendent of VSP, emphasized that the agency frequently partners with other law enforcement agencies to support state and national crime initiatives. “Virginia State Police’s mission is to provide for a secure Commonwealth,” Hanley stated.
While state agencies are moving forward with plans to implement the executive order, critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia, have raised alarms about the potential harm it could cause to local communities. Alexandra Werner-Winslow, a spokesperson for the ACLU of Virginia, described the executive order as an “anti-immigrant” measure that echoes harmful narratives promoted by the Trump administration.
“We’re deeply disturbed – but not surprised – by today’s anti-immigrant executive order,” Werner-Winslow said. “Governor Youngkin is perpetuating false narratives about immigrants committing more crime than native-born citizens, despite a lack of evidence to support this claim.”
The ACLU also criticized the financial implications of the order, arguing that it would waste taxpayer dollars while exacerbating division and fear within Virginia’s immigrant communities. “Executive orders like this play politics with people’s lives, waste taxpayer dollars, and ignore the fact that immigrants have been an indispensable part of Virginia for decades,” Werner-Winslow added.
As the debate continues to unfold, the future of Virginia’s immigrant populations remains uncertain. Advocates are urging Governor Youngkin to reconsider his decision and prioritize policies that promote inclusivity, trust, and public safety for all Virginians, regardless of their immigration status.
