In a significant policy shift, Virginia's Governor, Abigail Spanberger, has announced an official directive which dismantles existing 287(g) agreements between state police agencies and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This directive, effective since early February, aims to redefine the relationship between state law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, albeit it does not prohibit ICE from conducting raids within the state. The announcement comes as part of a broader discourse surrounding immigration policy and local law enforcement's role in it.

The Executive Order 12 explicitly revokes all prior 287(g) agreements that allowed local law enforcement in Virginia to act as collaborators with ICE. In the statement released by Governor Spanberger's office, it was emphasized that these partnerships often placed local police officers in precarious positions when enforcing immigration laws, which can further divide communities and lead to distrust among immigrant populations. The aim is to allow local law enforcement to focus more on community policing rather than immigration enforcement, reducing the potential for racial profiling and partisan divides.

While this directive marks a clear shift in policy, it does not entirely eliminate federal immigration enforcement operations in Virginia. Federal agents may still carry out raids; however, they will no longer receive local policing support. This change reflects a growing trend among various states to assert more control over local law enforcement practices, seeking to balance community safety with the rights of individuals regardless of immigration status, a matter that remains deeply contentious in American politics.