(VIRGINIA) Republicans are pressing Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger over her pledge to repeal Governor Glenn Youngkin’s 2025 immigration order, arguing the move would weaken law enforcement cooperation and turn Virginia into a “sanctuary state.” The clash burst into the open on August 27, 2025, when Governor Youngkin and GOP leaders said Spanberger’s plan would “turn Virginia into a sanctuary state for dangerous illegal immigrants.” Spanberger, who has made the immigration order a day-one target, says the policy overreaches and harms trust between police and immigrant communities across Virginia.
Executive Order 47 (EO-47): What it is and when it took effect
At the center of the fight is Executive Order 47 (EO-47), Youngkin’s immigration order that took effect on February 28, 2025. The order:
- Directs state and local agencies to work more closely with federal immigration authorities.
- Encourages formal agreements under Section 287(g), a federal program that lets trained local officers perform certain immigration functions under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) supervision.
EO-47 followed the General Assembly’s rejection of a budget proposal to cut state funding from jails that refuse to cooperate with ICE, heightening political pressure on local officials.
National Guard deployment and its role
Youngkin escalated cooperation in early August by announcing the deployment of about 60 Virginia National Guard members to support ICE.
- The Guard’s work is administrative and logistical: data entry, communications, and vehicle maintenance.
- This support is intended to free ICE agents for more field operations.
- VisaVerge.com reports the Guard is operating under Title 32 status and the mission is authorized through November 15, 2025, with federal funding but state command.
Republicans frame the deployment as a smart use of resources. Democrats argue it pulls state personnel into a federal role and sends the wrong message to immigrant families.
Key elements of Youngkin’s order
EO-47 orders multiple agencies to boost state-federal coordination. Key pieces include:
- Virginia State Police pursuing a “Task Force Model” 287(g) agreement — select troopers, after federal training, enforce limited immigration laws under ICE oversight.
- Virginia Department of Corrections pursuing a “Jail Enforcement Model” agreement — identifies people in state custody who may be removable and processes immigration detainers.
- The state’s public safety secretary seeking written certification from every local and regional jail that they are fully cooperating with ICE requests.
The order also adds political pressure on localities that decline to work with ICE, even though the legislature did not approve funding cuts for non-compliant jails.
Numbers in corrections and civil-rights concerns
The stakes inside correctional settings are measurable:
- About 950 people in Virginia Department of Corrections facilities have open immigration detainers.
- There are roughly 23,000 total inmates in those facilities.
Under EO-47, flagged inmates can be processed for immigration holds, potentially leading to transfer to ICE custody after criminal sentences end.
- Supporters say detainers focus on people already in custody for crimes.
- Civil rights groups warn broad use of detainers risks sweeping up long-time residents with old or low-level convictions.
Political and community impact
Spanberger has said, “My first action as governor will be to revoke Youngkin’s anti-immigrant executive order.” Republicans call that soft on enforcement.
- Youngkin’s allies warn repeal would undercut state police, corrections officers, and local sheriffs who have invested time in training and coordination.
- They also say ending Guard support would force ICE to divert agents back to desk work, reducing field capacity.
Spanberger’s team responds that Virginia should not deputize state personnel for a federal system that families fear, and that local cooperation should be voluntary, not compelled.
For many residents, the debate is personal. In mixed-status households—where some members are U.S. citizens and others are noncitizens—routine interactions with police or courts may now carry higher stakes.
- Community advocates in northern Virginia report some immigrants avoid courthouses, even as victims or witnesses.
- Fairfax County officials say they have not changed how the Sheriff’s Office handles ICE visits and do not conduct civil immigration arrests at courthouses. These policies are meant to keep lines open between law enforcement and communities.
Backers of EO-47 argue consistent statewide cooperation makes it easier to remove offenders who pose threats.
How EO-47 works in practice
On the ground, EO-47 follows a predictable process:
- Selected state police and corrections officers complete federal training and are deputized under 287(g).
- Local and regional jails receive requests to certify full cooperation with ICE.
- Inmates are screened; if federal records indicate removability, ICE detainers are issued.
- Deputized officers can help process detainers; cases move to immigration proceedings.
- The Virginia National Guard supports ICE administratively, freeing sworn agents for field duties.
Notably, with the General Assembly refusing to authorize funding cuts, localities that decline cooperation aren’t losing money right now, but they face political pressure and public criticism.
What repeal would mean
If Spanberger wins and follows through on repeal:
- Virginia would likely end formal 287(g) agreements at the state level and halt Guard support for ICE.
- Federal immigration enforcement would still continue in Virginia because ICE retains sole authority over federal immigration arrests and removals.
- Repeal would primarily affect how much Virginia’s own agencies participate, rather than stopping ICE operations outright.
The “sanctuary state” debate
The “sanctuary state” label is hotly disputed.
- Republicans use it to warn about weakened enforcement and public-safety risks.
- Spanberger and Democrats say ending EO-47 would not block ICE from operating in Virginia or stop localities from choosing to help ICE. It would remove a statewide mandate and ease fear in immigrant neighborhoods.
The legal meaning of “sanctuary” varies, and Virginia has no single statute that fits every claim. In practice, local policies differ widely across counties and cities.
Legal and personal consequences for immigrants
Policy choices affect courtroom and immigration outcomes:
- A person in state custody who receives a detainer may face immigration proceedings after finishing a sentence.
- Attorneys advise clients to consider that a guilty plea could trigger later immigration consequences.
- Outcomes can affect work permits, family unity, and the ability to remain in the United States.
Whether EO-47 changes an immigrant family’s daily life depends on:
- Where they live,
- Whether local law enforcement cooperates with ICE,
- Whether the person has prior arrests or convictions.
Where to find EO-47 and campaign implications
Residents can read EO-47 and any updates on the official Virginia Governor’s Executive Actions page: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/executive-actions/. That resource provides contact details for the Governor’s Office and links to security and public safety agencies.
- Voters can expect immigration to dominate the campaign through November.
- Turnout in suburbs and exurbs—where many immigrant families live and work—may help decide whether Youngkin’s structure stays or Spanberger’s repeal goes forward.
VisaVerge.com reports the Guard mission runs through mid-November, overlapping the peak of campaign season. That timing keeps immigration enforcement visible—from 287(g) training sessions to Guard teams supporting ICE logistics.
- Republicans see that visibility as reinforcing a law-and-order message.
- Democrats view it as highlighting state resources being used to widen a federal dragnet.
The outcome of this fight will set Virginia’s path on immigration for years. Whether voters choose continuity under EO-47 or Spanberger’s repeal, families, employers, schools, and local police departments will feel the effects quickly.
This Article in a Nutshell
Executive Order 47 (EO-47), effective February 28, 2025, directs Virginia agencies to expand cooperation with ICE through Section 287(g) agreements, jail enforcement models, and written certification requirements for local jails. Governor Youngkin authorized about 60 National Guard members under Title 32 to provide administrative support to ICE through November 15, 2025. Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger pledges to repeal EO-47 on day one, arguing it erodes trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement and risks sweeping use of detainers. Republicans counter that repeal would weaken enforcement and waste training and Guard resources. About 950 people in Virginia corrections have open immigration detainers among roughly 23,000 inmates. Repeal would end state-level 287(g) agreements and Guard support but would not stop ICE from operating in Virginia. The debate affects mixed-status families, local policing practices, and could shape state-federal immigration cooperation and voter decisions through the election.
