1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

I urge you to support legislation that would prohibit all 287(g) agreements in Virginia and ensure state and local law enforcement resources protect our communities rather than serve as extensions of federal immigration enforcement. Governor Spanberger correctly ended state agency participation in the 287(g) program, but 22 Virginia sheriffs continue operating under these agreements. The consequences are severe. ICE arrested over 7,000 people in Virginia in 2025, three times more than the previous year. Most troubling, 56 percent of these arrests involved civil enforcement actions with no criminal violations, up from just 19 percent the year before. Virginia has become an epicenter of mass deportation operations. The 287(g) Task Force Model enables officers to make immigration arrests during routine activities like traffic stops. This model was eliminated by the Obama administration after investigations found it led to racial profiling. Virginia State Police conducted over 235,000 traffic stops last year through early September across 78,000 miles of highways. Allowing immigration enforcement during these interactions fundamentally changes the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Financial incentives are driving local participation. Trump's Big Beautiful Bill provides departments with $100,000 vehicle stipends, $7,500 bonuses per certified officer, and monthly reimbursements for enforcement activities. Public records show sheriffs seeking reimbursement for traffic stop arrests, creating dangerous revenue motivations. As the Legal Aid Justice Center warned, unlimited federal cash makes it increasingly difficult for departments to disentangle themselves from these agreements. The current legislative session provides an opportunity to act. Representative Elizabeth Guzmán has filed legislation to prohibit 287(g) agreements statewide. California and Illinois have already enacted such bans. Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell noted that Virginia State Police already struggle to meet existing responsibilities and should focus on investigating violent crime. I ask you to support legislation banning 287(g) agreements and ensure Virginia law enforcement serves Virginia communities, not federal deportation agendas.