Governor Youngkin’s New Immigration Strategy: What Does It Mean for Virginia?

Typewriter typing "Executive Order" on paper.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has ordered state police and corrections officers to collaborate with ICE in identifying and deporting illegal immigrants who commit crimes, marking a significant shift in the state’s approach to immigration enforcement.

Key Takeaways

Governor Youngkin signed Executive Order 47 directing Virginia State Police and Department of Corrections to fully cooperate with ICE under Section 287(g) agreements
Virginia will establish both a Task Force Model with state police and a Jail Enforcement Model with corrections officers trained as Designated Immigration Officers
The order enables state authorities to identify, apprehend, and facilitate deportation of illegal immigrants involved in criminal activity
Currently, 946 inmates in Virginia Department of Corrections facilities have open immigration detainers
Critics warn the policy could lead to racial profiling and damage trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement

Virginia Strengthens Immigration Enforcement

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Executive Order 47 establishes formal partnerships between Virginia law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities. The directive requires the Virginia State Police (VSP) to enter into a 287(g) Task Force Model Memorandum of Understanding with ICE, creating a team of federally deputized officers specifically authorized to identify and apprehend criminal illegal immigrants throughout the Commonwealth. Similarly, the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) must implement a Jail Enforcement Model program that trains corrections officers to perform immigration functions within detention facilities.

The order took effect immediately upon signing and includes provisions requiring the Secretary of Public Safety & Homeland Security to ensure all local and regional jails in Virginia cooperate fully with ICE operations. This represents a significant expansion of immigration enforcement in the state, with Youngkin explicitly stating that Virginia is not a sanctuary state for those in the country illegally who commit crimes. The governor cited recent incidents involving illegal immigrants as motivation for implementing this policy change.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signs executive order allowing state law enforcement to cooperate with ICE https://t.co/raDPttALuZ

— Julia Manchester (@JuliaManch) February 27, 2025

Governor’s Reasoning and Federal Alignment

Youngkin framed the executive order as a public safety measure aimed specifically at removing dangerous individuals from Virginia communities stating “As Governor, protecting our citizens is my foremost responsibility and today we are taking action that will make Virginia safer by removing dangerous criminal illegal immigrants from our Commonwealth. This order will allow Virginia State Police and the Department of Corrections to partner with President Trump’s administration on federal immigration enforcement. 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.” The timing aligns with the Trump administration’s plans to expand Section 287(g) agreements nationwide through the “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” executive order. Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act provides the legal framework for these partnerships, allowing state and local law enforcement to perform limited immigration officer functions under ICE supervision.

The governor’s office highlighted that 946 inmates in Virginia corrections facilities currently have open immigration detainers. These individuals could potentially be processed for deportation rather than released back into communities after serving their sentences. Youngkin has previously pursued “no sanctuary cities” language in the state budget and joins other states like Georgia that have implemented similar cooperative arrangements with federal immigration authorities.

Concerns and Opposition

Immigration attorneys and advocates have raised concerns about the order’s potential impacts. Critics warn that similar policies implemented previously in Prince William County, Virginia allegedly cost taxpayers approximately $23 million over a five-year period while potentially damaging community relations. Some legal experts suggest the policy could lead to racial profiling and erode trust between immigrant communities and local police, potentially making immigrants less likely to report crimes or cooperate with investigations.

Business interests have historically opposed such measures in some areas, concerned about potential economic impacts if immigrant workers leave. Some critics point to examples where similar policies resulted in businesses and immigrant populations relocating to more welcoming jurisdictions. Research on the relationship between illegal immigration and crime rates shows mixed findings, with some studies indicating undocumented immigrants often commit fewer crimes than U.S.-born individuals, complicating the public safety justification for aggressive enforcement measures.

The executive order represents one of the most significant changes to Virginia’s immigration enforcement policies in recent years. As implementation begins, both supporters and critics will be watching closely to assess its impact on public safety, community relations, and economic conditions across the Commonwealth.