Statement on the use of Virginia National Guard to support ICE

The Legal Aid Justice Center calls on state leaders to end the use of the Virginia National Guard to assist in federal immigration enforcement. This misuse of government resources amplifies the deportation apparatus across Virginia, deepens fear among the immigrant community, and erodes vital trust in our diverse communities. The Virginia National Guard is called to defend—not deport —Virginia residents. Working as an arm of ICE is inconsistent with the sacred mission of the Virginia National Guard, which is typically called upon to respond to natural disasters and other emergencies, as well as to support national defense operations.

Virginia’s National Guard should not be asked to support ICE’s aggressive, secretive, and fear-inducing tactics, which cause immigrant families to forego care, education, and police services because they reasonably fear being separated from their loved ones at any time. ICE agents are detaining people without regard to criminal history, and no longer respect sacred spaces like schools, places of worship, or hospitals. Instead, they may confront anyone anywhere, be it at the bedside of a dying family member or in front of a child.

We say, “Virginia is for Lovers.” We must love our neighbors, 975,000 of whom are Latino or Hispanic, and tens of thousands of whom live in mixed-status families. Virginia is strongest when we stand together, not when we use government resources to enable policies that divide us. We call on Governor Youngkin to end this collaboration and invest instead in programs that build trust, protect civil rights, and strengthen our shared communities.