Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, has issued a stern warning to local governments: comply with federal immigration enforcement or face the prospect of losing state funding.
This bold move is part of Youngkin's broader initiative to dismantle "sanctuary cities" within the Commonwealthjurisdictions that opt to shield illegal migrants rather than collaborate with federal authorities on immigration matters.
The governor initially broached the idea of withholding funds in December, but it has now taken a more concrete form as an amendment to the state budget recently passed by the General Assembly. According to Fox News, this proposal aims to ensure that state resources are not allocated to counties or cities that maintain "sanctuary city" policies, such as disregarding detainer requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Youngkin has been particularly vocal in his criticism of Democrat-led counties in northern Virginia, notably Fairfax County. He insists that full cooperation with immigration enforcement is a prerequisite for continued funding. "This is not a decision for people to make locally," Youngkin stated, as reported by Fox News. "This is for the betterment of all our safety. We are not a sanctuary state and therefore were not supporting localities that are declared sanctuary cities."
However, not everyone shares the governor's perspective. Jeff McKay, Chair of the Board of Supervisors for Fairfax County, argues that Youngkin's plan could inadvertently "defund the police." McKay contends that Fairfax County does not qualify as a "sanctuary city" and that local officials adhere to all legal detainers. "Ultimately, what hes saying is, if you dont agree with his non-lawyer definition of 'sanctuary city,' it could affect your law enforcement agency, and hes doing this because hes alleging significant crime is occurring," McKay remarked.
The proposal has also drawn criticism from Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott, a Democrat, who accuses Youngkin of "capitulating" to the Trump administration's agenda, which includes the President's plan for mass deportations of migrants.
As the General Assembly, dominated by a Democrat majority, prepares to deliberate on Youngkin's proposal next week, the debate over immigration enforcement and state funding continues to unfold. The outcome will likely have significant implications for the relationship between state and local governments in Virginia, as well as for the broader national conversation on immigration policy.
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