Gov. Spanberger Signs Exec. Order Restricting ICE Activities on State Property
VIRGINIA – Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed an executive order on Wednesday that requires the state to develop guidance for employees navigating responses to federal immigration officers attempting to conduct enforcement activities on state properties.
Executive Order 16 particularly requires executive branch departments, the Department of Criminal Justice Services, the Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services Council, the Department of Elections, Virginia education systems at all levels, the state Department of Health, and the Secretary of Administration to develop guidelines for interactions between state employees and federal immigration officers. Guidelines are expected to be formed in accordance with input from the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security.
Additionally, the Governor’s order directs the state to create an online resource to help Virginians understand their rights and report alleged legally prohibited practices by federal agents. The executive order follows what leaders are calling a “significant increase in immigration-related detentions” from Jan. 2025 to March of this year, including the detention of 13 children under the age of six.
Governor Spanberger issued the following statement after signing the order:
“Kids in elementary school are afraid to get on the bus, neighbors fear being targeted based on their appearance at the grocery store, and workers are not showing up at their jobs. Public trust in state and local law enforcement is being undermined by the aggressive tactics used by federal immigration officials. Today, Virginia is taking important steps to help deepen trust in our law enforcement and provide clear guidance to Virginians who are most likely to interact with federal immigration officials.”
The order also prohibits the use of state property as a staging area, processing location, or operations base for federal civil immigration enforcement activities. Further, state agencies are required under the order to confirm that federal law enforcement officers seeking access to state property have a valid warrant or order.
To read Executive Order 16 in full, click here.
