Virginia Governor Directs State Police, Corrections Officers to Cooperate With ICE

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Feb. 27 issued an executive order that directs state police and corrections officers to assist federal immigration enforcement. The executive order deputizes state law enforcement to support President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration. “As governor, protecting our citizens is my foremost responsibility, and today we are taking action that will make Virginia safer by removing dangerous criminal illegal immigrants from our Commonwealth,” Youngkin said in a statement. “Dangerous criminal illegal immigrants should not be let back into our communities to assault, rape and murder. They should be sent back where they came from.” The order directs the Virginia State Police and the Department of Corrections to sign agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A state police task force of federally deputized troopers will also be created to help identify and apprehend criminal illegal immigrants who pose a risk to public safety....