Spanberger Repeals Former Governor’s Cooperation Order
A newly sworn-in governor in Virginia has moved quickly to reverse her predecessor’s immigration enforcement policy, placing the state squarely back into the national debate over the role of local law enforcement in federal immigration operations.
Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who took office Saturday as Virginia’s first female governor, signed an executive order rescinding a mandate issued by former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin that required state and local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Spanberger’s Executive Order No. 10 (2026) dismantles Youngkin’s Executive Order No. 47 (2025), which had directed law enforcement to assist ICE with civil immigration enforcement.
In her order, Spanberger emphasized that federal authorities should be responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws, while Virginia law enforcement should focus on state and local priorities. The order states that diverting limited state and local resources toward federal civil immigration enforcement is not an appropriate use of those resources, framing the change as a matter of public safety and operational focus rather than ideology.
Under Youngkin’s directive, most illegals picked up in Virginia by ICE had been found committing crimes other than immigration-related crimes. This opens the door to a much broader swath of illegal immigrants being picked up and deported. It turns Richmond into Minneapolis. https://t.co/ILLTPgzWb5
— Dr. Ben Braddock (@GraduatedBen) January 18, 2026
The decision comes amid growing national tension over immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, particularly following the fatal shooting of activist Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. That incident intensified protests and political backlash, further polarizing an already divided landscape.
Democratic governors across the country have increasingly explored ways to limit cooperation with ICE, often asserting that local agencies are not obligated to assist federal authorities. Republican leaders, by contrast, have argued that ICE is acting under lawful authority and that cooperation is essential to public safety and the rule of law.
Spanberger, who defeated Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears with backing from President Donald Trump, wasted little time in signaling a policy shift. Her executive order formally rescinds Youngkin’s directive effective immediately, with the document signed by both the governor and Secretary of the Commonwealth Jennifer B. Moon.
In the order, Spanberger cited her authority under Article V of the Virginia Constitution and reiterated that coordination with federal entities should be limited to criminal matters, not civil immigration enforcement.
At her inauguration, Spanberger framed the change within a broader message about safety and inclusion, pledging to address gun violence, addiction, and mental health while assuring immigrant communities that they would be included in the state’s focus on security. Her remarks reflected a broader Democratic narrative that emphasizes trust between immigrant communities and local authorities.