Youngkin targets Virginia ‘sanctuary’ cities, backs Trump’s anti-immigration policies

“It’s not just bad policy; it’s a moral failure that goes against the very soul of what Virginia should represent,” said Del. Michael Jones, who previously served on Richmond’s City Council.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Thursday unveiled an anti-immigrant budget proposal targeting localities that do not cooperate with federal immigration officials. 

Youngkin wants to require local law enforcement, sheriffs, and jail directors to fully comply with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers and give notice to ICE 48 hours before releasing undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes. Youngkin threatened to hold funding back from Virginia localities that offer sanctuary to undocumented immigrants or do not cooperate with ICE. 

Separately, Youngkin joined 25 other Republican governors this week in releasing a statement Wednesday stating their support for the incoming Trump administration’s immigration policies of deporting undocumented immigrants.  

“Virginia is not a sanctuary state, and we must be clear that we will not allow localities to become ‘sanctuary cities,’” Youngkin said in a statement. “If local governments turn their backs on their citizens in order to pander to pro-illegal immigrant groups, we will cut off their funding.”

The Youngkin administration identified Fairfax County, Arlington County, Richmond, and Alexandria as Virginia localities that have implemented sanctuary policies in recent years. 

These localities adopted sanctuary policies in recent years often to make undocumented immigrants feel more comfortable interacting with local officials without worrying about being deported. 

The trend coincided with and was partly a response to increased anti-immigrant rhetoric of the first Trump administration and the Republican Party, as exemplified by the calls for “mass deportation” at the most recent Republican National Convention, which Youngkin spoke at. 

Fairfax passed a policy in 2021 that ensures county employees do not voluntarily cooperate with the enforcement of federal civil immigration laws. In 2022, the Arlington County Sheriff said she would no longer voluntarily cooperate with ICE. 

Richmond’s mayor in 2017 also directed the city’s police department not to consent to work with ICE agreements and to maintain a policy of not asking people their immigration status. And in 2007, Alexandria passed a resolution for city employees not to ask about the citizenship status of the community members they come into contact with. 

Youngkin’s actions were celebrated by conservatives and denounced by Democrats.

“He is using the state budget like a weapon, aiming it straight at the heart of our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Del. Michael Jones, who previously served on Richmond’s City Council, on X. “It’s not just bad policy; it’s a moral failure that goes against the very soul of what Virginia should represent.” 

Youngkin will present his budget bill next week in Richmond at a joint committee meeting of Virginia Delegates and Senators.