Glenn Youngkin threatens funding cuts for counties ignoring ICE cooperation
- Governor Glenn Youngkin has proposed conditioning state funding on local government's cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
- He announced this plan as part of an amendment to the state budget, aiming to eliminate sanctuary city policies in Virginia.
- The proposal has sparked criticism and pushback from local officials and Democrats in the General Assembly.
In Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced plans to withhold state funding from local governments that do not comply with federal immigration enforcement, specifically targeting 'sanctuary cities' that protect undocumented migrants. The proposal was first mentioned in December and has now been formally introduced as an amendment to the state budget. Youngkin emphasized the importance of full cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for public safety, arguing that state funding should not support jurisdictions that resist federal immigration laws. He particularly criticized Northern Virginia counties like Fairfax for their 'sanctuary' policies. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay countered that the county adheres to legal detainer requests and does not qualify as a 'sanctuary city.' Meanwhile, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Don Scott accused Youngkin of aligning with Trump's immigration strategies, which aim to enforce strict immigration controls and deportations. The proposal is set to be discussed in the upcoming session of the General Assembly, where Youngkin will seek bipartisan support to enforce this funding policy and maintain accountability within local governments regarding immigration laws.