(RICHMOND, VIRGINIA) Demonstrators filled the steps of Richmond City Hall at noon on Monday, August 11, 2025, protesting recent ICE deportation raids across the city and urging stronger local protections for immigrant families. The rally, organized by the Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice and Equality, followed multiple reports of early-morning detentions in South Richmond. Hours later, Governor Glenn Youngkin reiterated his support for federal enforcement in Virginia, sharpening a growing split between state leadership and Richmond’s city officials.
Local stations WTVR CBS 6 and WWBT 12 showed a large crowd with speakers tying the protest to recent operations at Southwood Apartments. Organizers delivered a letter calling on city leaders to “do their jobs of protecting all community members” and to adopt concrete measures that shield residents from immigration enforcement spillover. Advocates linked the raids to rising fear in neighborhoods, especially among families with school-age children and workers on early shifts.
Protest at City Hall and State Response
The Governor’s office restated backing for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), saying detainees “clearly have been arrested” and “are here illegally.” By contrast, Mayor Danny Avula emphasized that Richmond police practice community policing and do not enforce federal immigration policy. He pledged city support for residents affected by federal actions.
The Richmond Police Department (RPD) echoed that stance, saying it does not collaborate with ICE and was not part of recent operations. Delegate Mike Jones, a Richmond Democrat, criticized tactics that create fear and urged agencies to protect rather than intimidate communities.
The Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice and Equality said demonstrations would continue until local leaders commit to specific steps, including:
- Clear limits on data sharing with federal immigration authorities
- Public guidance for residents on how to respond to federal presence
- Funding for legal and emergency aid to support affected households
Reports of Raids in South Richmond
Accounts from late July and early August have focused on Southwood Apartments.
- On July 31, 2025, VPM reported an early-morning encounter in which witnesses said agents boxed in a 21-year-old’s car and shattered a passenger window to detain him as he left for work. RPD later confirmed the individual was in ICE custody and stressed the department had no role in the operation.
- A follow-up report on August 5 described a Richmond woman’s husband being seized mid-commute.
- Organizers with New Virginia Majority estimated about 20 ICE “sweeps” in and around Southwood since February, including actions at a nearby encampment.
Community groups say the impact is immediate and harsh. Waymakers Foundation, a local nonprofit, reported a pattern of detaining men who are primary earners, leaving households short on rent and food within days. The group is helping families:
- search the detainee locator,
- post bonds, and
- access crisis funds for utilities and legal fees while cases unfold.
As of August 12, federal enforcement in the Richmond area remains active, with Southwood still a focus according to local reporting. City officials maintain they will not assist with immigration enforcement, while the Commonwealth signals continuing support for ICE statewide. That divide—local non-cooperation versus state backing—sets the stage for more friction as protests continue at Richmond City Hall.
News coverage of the demonstration referenced a national climate where public views on enforcement are shifting. A CBS poll cited in those segments showed lower overall approval of the deportation push under President Trump compared with earlier this year, even as support among Republicans stayed strong. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, that mix—high partisan support paired with softening national ratings—often drives a patchwork of local responses: some cities lean into “community trust” policies while states reinforce federal priorities.
What Residents Can Do Now
Advocates expect continued early-morning operations in Southwood and nearby neighborhoods. Families report staying indoors, delaying trips to work or school, and avoiding errands due to fear of unmarked vehicles and plainclothes agents.
City leaders want residents to know RPD is not part of these operations. Still, federal agents can act independently anywhere in the United States.
For families dealing with a detention, local legal and aid networks recommend the following steps:
- Verify custody and location
- Search the ICE Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS) using the person’s A-number or biographical data: https://locator.ice.gov
- Contact legal counsel
- Reach out to immigration attorneys or accredited representatives for bond requests and defenses; nonprofits can help with referrals.
- Bond and release
- If a bond is set, arrange payment through ICE’s bond process; community groups are helping families post bonds.
- Prepare documents
- Collect identity records, proof of community ties, pay stubs, and evidence of hardship for bond hearings and potential relief.
- Family support
- Apply for emergency funds to cover rent, utilities, and food while the case proceeds; groups like Waymakers are coordinating aid.
Community organizations are also expanding know-your-rights (KYR) trainings. Trainings focus on:
- common tactics at doors and in parking lots,
- how to ask if officers have a warrant signed by a judge, and
- how to remain silent.
The Immigrant Defense Project says its ICEwatch map is not being updated as of January 2025, but the group continues to provide current KYR materials and raid-response toolkits used by trainers in Richmond.
Community Impact and Perspectives
The City Hall rally drew a cross-section of residents, including U.S. citizens worried about neighbors avoiding school pickups and medical appointments. Attendees described:
- children waking early to check on parents leaving for work,
- small businesses struggling when workers stay home after nearby arrests, and
- households facing sudden financial shocks when a primary earner is detained.
This is the human cost advocates highlight when they argue that ICE deportation raids undermine public safety by pushing people deeper into the shadows.
Supporters of enforcement counter that removing people without status who have prior arrests is a lawful federal duty, not a local choice. The Governor’s office echoed that point, signaling continued cooperation at the state level. That position could shape how state agencies coordinate with federal partners in coming weeks, even as Richmond emphasizes it will not use city police resources for immigration enforcement.
What’s Likely Next
Organizers and advocates expect:
- more peaceful demonstrations at Richmond City Hall,
- more KYR workshops across neighborhoods, and
- increased pressure on City Council to adopt data-sharing limits and to fund legal aid.
They also seek:
- a clear public protocol for when federal agents show up at city buildings or request local support, and
- regular public reporting so residents can track how city policies work day to day.
For now, the facts on the ground are clear: federal operations are active, families are scrambling for help, and local nonprofits are racing to meet rising needs. If the pace around Southwood continues, Richmond could see a longer season of testy city–state relations and a steady drumbeat of rallies at Richmond City Hall.
Families remain in the middle, deciding whether to open a door before sunrise, whether to drive to work, and whether a normal day can still be normal when a knock might change everything.
This Article in a Nutshell
Richmond residents protested August 11, 2025, after ICE raids around Southwood Apartments. Organizers demand data-sharing limits, legal aid funding, and public guidance. Mayor and RPD deny local involvement; Governor backs ICE enforcement. Families face financial crisis when primary earners are detained, while nonprofits expand KYR trainings and emergency support.
