RICHMOND, VA – In her first official act as Virginia’s new governor, Abigail Spanberger on Friday rescinded former Governor Glenn Youngkin’s 2025 executive order that required state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
The move, signed hours after her inauguration, immediately nullifies Executive Order No. 47, which directed Virginia police and sheriff’s departments to assist in enforcing federal civil immigration laws. Spanberger’s repeal order argues that the policy diverted local public safety resources from core responsibilities such as criminal investigations, jail operations, and community engagement.
“Federal authorities should enforce federal civil immigration laws,” the new order states. “Law enforcement in the Commonwealth should prioritize the safety and security of all residents in Virginia, the enforcement of local and state laws, and coordination with federal entities on criminal matters.”
Spanberger’s order, effective immediately, underscores a sharp policy break from her Republican predecessor. Youngkin’s directive had been a flashpoint in Virginia politics, praised by conservatives as a necessary step to enforce immigration law but condemned by immigrant advocates and Democratic lawmakers who argued it sowed fear in local communities.
The repeal fulfills one of Spanberger’s central campaign promises to “end the misuse of local police as immigration agents” and marks an early assertion of her administration’s shift toward what she has called “community-focused public safety.”
Youngkin’s order had encouraged local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests and participation in programs allowing state and local officers to assist in immigration enforcement. Critics said the policy strained relationships between police and immigrant neighborhoods, discouraging crime reporting and community trust.
Supporters of the former governor’s approach argue that rescinding the order could weaken enforcement efforts and increase risks associated with undocumented criminal offenders. Immigration-focused groups that backed Youngkin said they would push for legislative measures to reinstate the policy.
Spanberger, a former CIA officer and three-term congresswoman, framed her decision as a matter of policing priorities rather than ideology. “Public safety depends on trust,” she said during her campaign. “Local officers should protect their communities — not do the federal government’s job.”
Governor Abigail Spanberger’s first official action rescinds Glenn Youngkin’s immigration enforcement mandate, signaling an immediate reversal in Virginia’s law enforcement priorities.
