NORFOLK, Va. — Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed an executive directive requiring all state agencies to cancel their partnerships with ICE.

“Public trust is essential both to keep members of the community safe as well as to keep law enforcement safe. Here in the commonwealth, we want to make sure that we’re making a clear line in the sand about what is expected of our law enforcement officials,” Spanberger said Wednesday afternoon at a press conference.

The directive applies to 287(g) agreements — contracts with the Department of Homeland Security that allow agents from state agencies to conduct immigration enforcement. The agents receive 40 hours or less of online training in immigration enforcement and law.

The state agencies affected by this order include the Virginia State Police, the Virginia Department of Corrections, Virginia Department of Corrections Law Enforcement Services, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

“I think that members of the Virginia State Police or members of the Department of Corrections should be working under and at the direction and supervision of the leadership within their agencies,” Spanberger said. “That doesn’t preclude any sort of coordination or task force-related work. That doesn’t preclude any federal agency coming with a judicial warrant and requesting assistance.”

Spanberger sidestepped a question about whether she is concerned that the Trump administration will view this order as an invitation to send a large-scale enforcement operation to Virginia.

On the day of her inauguration, Spanberger signed an executive order rescinding former Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s order requiring collaboration between state agencies and ICE.

Republican Del. Terry Kilgore, the House minority leader, railed against the governor’s move.

“We told you so,” Kilgore said in a statement. “Just days ago, Democrats insisted the Governor’s order didn’t do anything. Today, Governor Spanberger ended all of Virginia’s 287(g) agreements with ICE. This decision weakens public safety and cuts off cooperation that helped law enforcement remove dangerous criminals from our communities. Virginians deserve honesty, not spin.”

Spanberger also signed an executive order Wednesday that clarifies priorities for state law enforcement agencies, including the importance of preserving public trust and not engaging in fear-based tactics.

“The commitment by Virginia law enforcement to these overarching principles is readily apparent, and this executive order is intended to highlight their work in accordance with these principles and policies, particularly as we have witnessed recent tactics by some federal law enforcement agents that disregard these policies and threaten broader public trust in policing.”

Monica Sarmiento, Executive Director of Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights, praised the move as a step towards protecting the relationship between law enforcement and their communities.

“By ending statewide cooperation with ICE, the Governor is affirming that our state resources should be used to keep communities safe, not to tear families apart and funnel people into a system that has repeatedly violated civil and human rights,” Sarmiento said. “Immigrants are essential to Virginia’s economy and civic life, and today’s action sends a clear message that our communities deserve dignity, safety, and equal protection under the law.”

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