Virginia a Sanctuary State? Dem Candidate Suggests Yes

Democrat nominee for Virginia governor Abigail Spanberger says she plans to revoke an order by Gov. Glenn Youngkin designed to facilitate cooperation between Virginia and federal law enforcement officers to combat illegal immigration.

“Virginia is not a sanctuary state,” the order says.

But in an interview with The Virginia Mercury, Spanberger said one of her first acts in office would be to reverse that order.

“Our immigration system is absolutely broken,” she said. 

“The idea that we would take local police officers or local sheriff’s deputies in amid all the things that they have to do, like community policing or staffing our jails or investigating real crimes, so that they can go and tear families apart … that is a misuse of those resources.”

Spanberger’s comments refer to an executive order Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued in February authorizing state law enforcement to use “all available methods to facilitate the arrest and deportation” of illegal immigrants. In his order, Youngkin cited numerous incidents of dangerous crimes committed by illegal aliens, saying his instructions would “improve the safety of all Virginians.”

Spanberger stands in stark contrast to her Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who supports the order and has helped with enforcement.

“I am a legal immigrant and now a naturalized citizen. Working together, the Governor, Attorney General, and I have made Virginia safer,” Earle-Sears said in February, when the order was issued. “We’ve seen too many tragic stories after dangerous criminals in this country illegally were put back on the streets.”

In a post on X, Youngkin highlighted this distinction, saying, 

In her very first act as governor, @SpanbergerForVA promises to turn Virginia into a sanctuary state for dangerous illegal immigrants. @winwithwinsome promises to keep dangerous criminals off our streets. Could the choice be any more clear, Virginia? Your safety is on the ballot this November.

The most recent statewide poll suggests Spanberger’s position might boomerang on her politically. A Roanoke College poll published Aug. 19 says that 40% of Virginians support the GOP position on immigration, compared to 33% who back Democrats on the issue.

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