Workers and members of Service Employees International Union Virginia 512 protesting US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in downtown Richmond on January 23, 2026. (Michael O'Connor/Dogwood)
The demonstrators wanted ICE agents out of their communities; accountability for agents who have violated civil rights; an end to racial profiling; and for elected officials to fight back.
Virginia union members led a rally and march in downtown Richmond on Friday as part of a national day of protest against abductions and killings by agents with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is eyeing expanding its operations in the region.
The demonstrators wanted ICE agents out of their communities; accountability for agents who have violated civil rights; an end to racial profiling; and for elected officials to fight back.
”Right now we’re seeing—not only the escalations that we’ve been seeing here in Richmond with ICE presence just increased this past week—but we’re also seeing it just happen around the country,” said Violeta Vega, a Richmond home care worker and member with Service Employees International Union Virginia 512.
While Vega led demonstrators in chants of “ICE Out!” outside the federal courthouse on East Main Street, officials in Hanover County are weighing how to respond to ICE’s plans to buy a property there to support its operations.
Hanover leaders announced yesterday that the county had been contacted by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about “its intent to purchase and operate a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility in a warehouse located on Lakeridge Parkway.”
Hanover intends to respond within 30 days. When the county’s supervisors meet on Wednesday they will consider next steps, the county said.
The Richmonder reported that DHS is eying the warehouse as a possible site for a processing facility that could hold up to 1,500 people.
Vega said the possibility of an ICE facility getting built in Hanover was “absurd” and called on people to let their representatives know they opposed the project.
“We want ICE out not only of Hanover, out of Virginia and out of everywhere,” Vega said.
Support Our Cause
Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for Virginians and our future.
Since day one, our goal here at Dogwood has always been to empower people across the commonwealth with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Virginia families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.
11 pro-worker bills the Virginia General Assembly passed in 2026
Gov. Abigail Spanberger has until April 13 to decide whether to enact, veto, or amend legislation passed by the General Assembly during its 2026...
Fired VSU faculty members demand answers, jobs back
Six faculty members say they were abruptly fired with no explanation last year from Virginia State University. VSU isn’t commenting. Six fired...
Virginia Dem introduces bill to repeal anti-union ‘right-to-work’ law
Virginia State Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy says it’s time to get rid of the anti-union law with roots in the era of segregation. But it remains to be...
Federal workers, share your story with Dogwood
We want to hear from federal workers about how the shutdown is affecting them. Share your story using the form below. The government shutdown began...
Virginia Republicans don’t back effort to restore union rights for federal workers
Two vulnerable Republicans use pro-worker rhetoric, but have yet to support legislation aimed at empowering federal workers. Virginia Democrats in...
Fairfax County workers closing in on first union contract
Thousands of Fairfax County government employees will soon vote on whether to ratify their first union contract. Thousands of local government...
