Day One: Governor Spanberger ends Virginia’s ICE collaboration
Quick Summary
Virginia's new governor, Abigail Spanberger, made an immediate impact by rescinding Executive Order 47, which terminated the 287(g) program allowing local police to function as ICE agents. This move is a significant victory for immigrant advocacy groups like CASA in Action, largely driven by sustained pressure from immigrant communities whose support, particularly from Latino voters in areas such as Prince William County, was crucial in her election. Luis Aguilar, the Virginia Director at CASA in Action, credited the win to the relentless organizing of these communities, arguing that public safety increases when families no longer fear deportation. While celebrating the decision, Aguilar emphasized that this is just a first step, urging the General Assembly to enact the strongest possible protections for immigrants and set strict limits on local collaboration with ICE. To keep the pressure on, community members are organizing a rally at the Virginia General Assembly on January 22nd to push for further legislative action and ensure this initial victory leads to more permanent reforms.
Abigail Spanberger, Virginia's new governor, made a big splash right away by stopping the state from working with federal immigration people.Right when she started her job, she got rid of Executive...
Abigail Spanberger, Virginia's new governor, made a big splash right away by stopping the state from working with federal immigration people.Right when she started her job, she got rid of Executive Order 47.
That meant the 287(g) program, which let local police act like ICE agents, was gone.This decision is a big win for immigrant advocacy groups, especially CASA in Action.For a long time, they've really pushed for this cause, mainly because immigrant communities, who've wanted this change for ages, put a lot of pressure on them.This move really hits home politically, especially since Latino voters were a big deal in getting Spanberger elected.When you look at how people voted after the 2024 presidential election, the biggest changes were in Virginia's areas with lots of Hispanic residents. Prince William County really stands out here, especially since many Salvadoran and Central American families live there."This is a big day for the Commonwealth," said Luis Aguilar, who is the Virginia Director at CASA in Action."This win?
It's all thanks to the immigrant communities; they got together, they spoke up, and they just wouldn't shut up."So, Governor Spanberger got rid of EO-47, which really shows Virginia is all about freedom for everyone.One thing to remember about getting started is that it's easy to feel overwhelmed.
There are many steps you can take, and it's helpful to see them spelled out clearly.
Knowing where to begin can make a big difference.Aguilar said it loud and clear: the state doesn't have to work with ICE just to keep folks safe."When families aren't scared of being deported, everyone feels more secure," he said.Even though he was happy about winning, he made sure to say that this was just the start.The General Assembly really needs to respect Virginia's history by putting in place the best possible protections for immigrant communities. They should also set the tightest rules for how much local authorities can willingly work with ICE.The goal is to make the result feel written by a human, not polished by a system.The immigrant community members are getting together at the Virginia General Assembly at 9 a.m. They want to keep things moving.m.on Thursday, January 22nd.They want to make sure lawmakers know this is a good start, but there's still more work to do. Knowing where to begin can make a big difference.Aguilar said it loud and clear: the state doesn't have to work with ICE just to keep folks safe."When families aren't scared of being deported, everyone feels more secure," he said.Even though he was happy about winning, he made sure to say that this was just the start.The General Assembly really needs to respect Virginia's history by putting in place the best possible protections for immigrant communities. They should also set the tightest rules for how much local authorities can willingly work with ICE.The goal is to make the result feel written by a human, not polished by a system.The immigrant community members are getting together at the Virginia General Assembly at 9 a.m. They want to keep things moving.m.on Thursday, January 22nd.They want to make sure lawmakers know this is a good start, but there's still more work to do.