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RICHMOND, Va. – Following today’s announcement that Gov. Spanberger ended 287(g) agreements with state law enforcement in Virginia, a program that effectively turns state law enforcement officers into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, ACLU of Virginia Policy Director Chris Kaiser released the following statement:

“By ending 287(g) agreements at the state level in the Commonwealth, Gov. Spanberger is sending a message that Virginia’s state law enforcement agencies will no longer be a tool for ICE. 287(g) agreements terrorize families and communities, invite racial profiling, erode public trust in law enforcement, and actively make Virginians less safe.

“Everyone benefits when law enforcement is able to focus on public safety, not federal immigration enforcement, and Virginia lawmakers are working to deliver further legislation to Gov. Spanberger’s desk to end remaining collaborations with ICE at the local level. Together, Virginia is speaking with one voice: we will not be coopted into carrying out the Trump administration’s brutal and legally dubious anti-immigrant agenda.”

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Press Release
Jan 18, 2026
Over a light orange background is a white circle with an orange typewriter in the middle.
  • Immigrants' Rights

Gov. Spanberger's executive order is the first step to make sure Virginia law enforcement is not a tool for ICE

“To make her vision into a reality, the governor must terminate the state’s existing 287g agreements and Virginia lawmakers must deliver meaningful legislation to her desk to protect Virginians,” said ACLU-VA Executive Director Mary Bauer.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights