Press Release: New resource reveals 32 state and local government contracts with ICE across Virginia
RICHMOND, VA – A new online resource from the Legal Aid Justice Center (LAJC) details how numerous law enforcement agencies across Virginia, as well as state agencies and regional jails, have contracted with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to perform duties outside their mission that may exceed their authority or conflict with Virginia’s state law and constitution.
Currently in Virginia, there are at least 32 “287(g) agreements” (named after the section of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act that references them), and 223 state and local personnel have been nominated to participate under these agreements, including two security resource officers in public schools and one behavioral health advocate. The Riverside Jail, located in Prince George County, receives more than half of its revenue from holding people for ICE. Often, these agreements were created in secret, and agencies were reluctant to share information about them in response to our requests, a significant number telling us they were not allowed to respond to our requests at the direction of ICE.
“Those local law enforcement agencies with 287(g) agreements now have a massive financial incentive to abandon their mission to protect communities in favor of terrorizing immigrant populations,” said LAJC Director of Litigation Alex Kornya. “Contracts with ICE, often shrouded in secrecy, are not only a misuse of time and resources, but they also open these agencies up to significant liability, liability that Virginia taxpayers will ultimately pay.”
On January 17, Governor Spanberger rescinded Executive Order No. 47, which had directed the Virginia State Police and Virginia Department of Corrections enter into contracts with ICE and encouraged local law enforcement to collaborate with ICE. The state subsequently signed additional contracts with ICE that are not prescribed in the Executive Order, such as with the Department of Wildlife Resources. All state and local agreements remain in force until terminated by one or both party. There has yet to be evidence that any contracts or collaborations between ICE and state law enforcement have ended.
“Governor Spanberger’s action to rescind EO 47 on her first day was an important step, as these contracts do nothing to make people safer,” said Rohmah Javed, Legal Director of LAJC’s Immigrant Justice Program. “Immigrant communities across the state are terrified. These agreements erode trust, making it much less likely immigrants will seek out needed services, report crimes witnessed or crimes they have experienced as victims, or participate in their communities. But we need to see immediate action at both the state and local levels to officially end these abusive agreements.”
The online resource includes access to the original documents obtained by the LAJC via Virginia Freedom of Information Act requests, a map showing the counties and agencies currently contracted with ICE, and an explainer about what these agreements are, how they work, and how they undermine public safety, create fear, divert resources, and create liabilities for both the agencies and taxpayers. You can view the online resource at www.justice4all.org/ICEcontracts.
Legislation will be filed in the 2026 Virginia General Assembly to prevent the use of local resources for federal immigration enforcement. LAJC is working with legislators to advance these and other measures to protect immigrant communities. Learn more at www.justice4all.org/policy.
