Spanberger rescinded last year’s Executive Order No. 47 with Executive Order No. 10, terminating the Virginia State Police’s agreement with ICE, called 287(g). In her directive, Spanberger justified the move as devoting more resources to protecting communities.
“As a former federal law enforcement officer and the daughter of a career law enforcement officer, I know that effective policing is built on trust. Like so many of Virginia’s law enforcement officers, I have serious concerns that chaotic federal law enforcement actions across the country are eroding years of trust built by our officers within the communities they serve,” Spanberger said in a statement.
“When state and local law enforcement are pulled away from investigating crimes and upholding our Virginia laws to do the job of federal agents, it weakens their ability to deepen trust within their communities. This contributes to a culture of fear and distrust that makes it harder for officers to do their jobs,” she added.
The Virginia governor argued that immigration enforcement and law enforcement priorities, such as safety and security, weren’t aligned.
“It is critical that state law enforcement agencies ensure their agreements, policies, and approaches are focused on their core responsibilities: keeping out communities safe, investigating, and deterring crime; building, cultivating, and maintaining trust-based partnerships with the community; and within the Department of Corrections, operating Virginia’s prisons justly,” Spanberger added.
IN FOCUS: VIRGINIA’S NEW ‘CENTRIST’ GOVERNOR GOES FULL CALIFORNIA ON DAY ONE
The directive ordered the Virginia State Police, the Virginia Department of Corrections, the Virginia Conservation Police, and the Virginia Marine Police to terminate all 287(g) agreements with ICE.
After winning big in November 2025, Virginia Democrats have looked to flex their newfound power by pursuing more controversial policies, such as reviving diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and reducing punishments for some crimes. Critics have accused Spanberger and Virginia Democrats of pursuing a more left-wing agenda than they let on during their campaigns, which were dominated by centrist messaging.
