Virginia became the latest in a handful of mostly GOP states that are compelling their law enforcement officers to work with federal authorities to deport illegal immigrants.
Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 47 on Tuesday afternoon, mandating that state law enforcement and correctional agencies enter into formal agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), pledging “full cooperation” when it comes to helping them identify and deport undocumented illegal immigrants. The governor cited federal law under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which allows state and local law enforcement officials to enter into agreements that “federally deputize” them to perform certain actions in support of federal immigration enforcement.
“Dangerous criminal illegal immigrants should not be let back into our communities to assault, rape and murder,” Youngkin said in an announcement about the new mandate. “They should be sent back where they came from.”
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Gov. Youngkin’s executive order requires cooperation by Virginia state law enforcement and corrections officials with federal immigration authorities. (Fox News/Getty Images)
While Virginia is just the latest among a handful of mostly GOP states to compel its law enforcement to work with ICE, the scope of these new cooperation requirements varies slightly from state to state.
Some states, like Tennessee, have implemented compelled cooperation to focus specifically on pursuing criminal undocumented immigrants. Others, like Virginia, are instructing their police to assist with apprehending and deporting any undocumented immigrants living illegally in their state.
Under Youngkin’s new order, Virginia State Police will enter into a “287(g) Task Force Model Memorandum of Understanding” with ICE, creating a “State Police Task Force” to help with identifying and apprehending “criminal…
