Virginia Has Just Declared War on Community Safety

Virginia is on the brink of becoming a de facto sanctuary for illegal aliens after Gov. Abigail Spanberger tore up the order that kept criminal foreigners behind bars and off our streets.

In one sweeping stroke, Spanberger voided Executive Order 47—the very directive that forced the Virginia State Police and Department of Corrections to partner with ICE under Section 287(g). She’s handing a victory to drug smugglers, gang members, and human traffickers.

Under Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s leadership, EO 47 worked exactly as intended. State troopers and jailers trained by ICE infiltrated criminal networks, identified illegal entrants, and removed dangerous offenders by the hundreds. Communities saw real relief.

Spanberger’s repeal is a reckless betrayal of those gains. She claims local officers need to “focus on core responsibilities,” but the harsh reality is that violent foreign felons will now slip through the cracks. Street gangs, emboldened by sanctuary politics, will seize new turf.

Crime by illegal aliens is rising in sanctuary jurisdictions nationwide—and Virginia will follow suit. A recent Heritage Foundation analysis shows violent crime by criminal noncitizens jumps over 20 percent when local law enforcement abandons 287(g) cooperation.

Taxpayers will pay the price. The Federation for American Immigration Reform calculates illegal immigration costs Virginia more than $1.2 billion annually—money that funds schools, hospitals, and roads. Spanberger’s order guarantees that bill balloons.

Republican legislators are already planning countermeasures. Draft bills will mandate mandatory ICE notifications from jails and penalize counties that refuse to sign 287(g) agreements. Lawmakers won’t let this stand.

Spanberger insists she’s protecting local cops, but she’s stripping them of critical tools. A police chief can’t investigate a violent assault if he’s forced to release the perpetrator because of his immigration status. This is nothing short of policy-driven lawlessness.

The border crisis propels hundreds of thousands through every month. Cartels control the flow. Sanctuary policies like Spanberger’s empower those criminal enterprises. We cannot allow Virginia to be complicit.

Youngkin’s original order proved that state–federal cooperation deters illegal entries and dismantles criminal rings. It’s common sense: if you identify the bad actors, you remove them. Period.

Spanberger’s sanctuary gambit isn’t compassion—it’s surrender. She’s chosen ideology over public safety. Virginians deserve better. Our families deserve better.

Republicans in Richmond must act now to restore 287(g) enforcement. No excuses. No delays. Virginia’s law-abiding citizens demand and deserve a governor who puts them first—not a sanctuary for lawbreakers.