Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) is hammering Virginia counties that refuse to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, calling to cut state funding from those who won’t cooperate.
Following the arrest of a top MS-13 leader in Virginia by federal and state authorities, the governor said he will introduce an amendment in the state budget to withhold funding but expects it will require the support of Democrats in the General Assembly.
“Finally, with regards to counties that are demonstrating resistance to cooperate with federal authorities and particularly with ICE, this is why I have put in a budget amendment in our budget that if they’re not going to cooperate with ICE, then we will withhold funding,” Youngkin said at a Thursday press conference.
“Now, I need a General Assembly to vote for this, and I need a bunch of Democrats to step up and say, hey, we believe in public safety, and we’re gonna hold jurisdictions accountable, and with this budget amendment, we can then hold Fairfax County accountable, but I’m also asking for help from our federal partners,” he added.
Fairfax County, the most populous county in Virginia, says on its website that the county “does not and will not enforce civil federal immigration laws.”
“The County is devoted to protecting the rights of all its residents, regardless of their immigration or citizenship status, and to ensuring they have an equal opportunity to participate in our economic vitality,” it says.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said before President Donald Trump’s inauguration that he was making it clear to county residents that the federal government will be responsible for deportations.
“What I’m going to be continually reiterating to folks is that county employees are not federal immigration officials,” he said. “Immigration policy and enforcement has always been and must always be the role of the federal government.”
Youngkin signed an executive order last month directing the Virginia State Police and local jails to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. “Dangerous criminal illegal immigrants should not be let back into our communities to assault, rape and murder. They should be sent back where they came from,” Youngkin said.
TRACKING WHAT DOGE IS DOING ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Republicans at the Republican State Leadership Committee, the top Republican group focused on state legislative races, are optimistic that if Virginia Democrats don’t listen to Youngkin on immigration, voters will cut into their slim majorities in both chambers.
“This morning’s raid was a win for not just Virginians, but all Americans as one of MS-13’s top leaders was effectively taken off the streets and will no longer be a threat to the safety of Americans,” RSLC communications director Mason Di Palma said.
“While this was a success,” he added, “Richmond Democrats now need to step up and work with Republicans to pass this crucial budget amendment to ensure any local jurisdictions that choose not to follow the law are not rewarded with any funding. This is common sense, and if Democrats refuse to support this, how can we trust them to continue to lead in Richmond?”