Virginia LULAC Commends Governor Spanberger on Day-One Action to End 287(g) Cooperation
- Virginia LULAC
- 34 minutes ago
- 3 min read
January 21, 2026
Virginia LULAC proudly applauds and expresses our sincere gratitude to Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger for her decisive leadership in rescinding Executive Order 47, including the Commonwealth’s participation in a 287(g) immigration enforcement directive that had encouraged state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. By signing this rescission on her first day in office, Governor Spanberger took an important step toward policies that reinforce community trust, public safety, and the equitable treatment of all Virginians.
Understanding Section 287(g)
Section 287(g) refers to a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act that allows the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to enter into formal agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies. Under these agreements, selected officers receive federal training and are authorized to perform certain immigration enforcement functions under ICE supervision.
These agreements can grant local police or sheriff’s deputies the authority to identify, question, and process individuals suspected of being in the United States without lawful status — duties that would normally be carried out by federal officers. Depending on the type of agreement, this may include screening people in custody, checking immigration databases, issuing detainers, and referring individuals into federal immigration proceedings.
The 287(g) program was established as part of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, with the intention of enhancing cooperation between federal and local law enforcement in enforcing immigration laws. However, participation in the program is entirely voluntary for state and local agencies, and critics, including immigrant rights and civil-rights organizations, have raised concerns that it can erode trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement, divert local policing resources, and contribute to racial profiling or fear within communities.
We also congratulate Governor Abigail Spanberger on becoming the first woman Governor of Virginia. This historic milestone represents a remarkable achievement for gender equity in our Commonwealth and is a testament to her dedication, leadership, and the confidence Virginians have placed in her. Since Virginia’s founding in 1776, this is the first time a woman has held its highest office, a moment of pride not only for women but for all who believe in inclusive civic leadership.
As Virginia LULAC, we look forward to working collaboratively with Governor Spanberger and her administration to advance policies and initiatives that benefit all communities, with particular emphasis on Latino communities throughout the Commonwealth. We are committed to partnering on efforts that promote fairness, opportunity, and prosperity in education, economic development, healthcare access, and civil rights.
Our Ask:
We also respectfully ask Her Excellency to consider how the Commonwealth can ensure that Virginia never again has policies like 287(g) that undermine community trust and well-being. 287(g) agreements, which deputize state and local law enforcement to carry out federal immigration enforcement functions under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have been shown to strain relations between immigrant communities and police, erode trust, and make families fearful of everyday interactions with public safety officials.
We urge her administration to work with the General Assembly and community stakeholders to translate this commitment into law, codifying protections that reinforce clear boundaries between local policing and federal immigration enforcement, safeguard due process, and uphold the dignity and safety of all residents. By doing so, Virginia can lead with policies that strengthen families, enhance public safety through trust rather than fear, and foster a sense of pride and belonging for every person who calls this Commonwealth home.
We want to make one message unmistakably clear to people across the nation:
Virginia is a welcoming place for ALL — a Commonwealth where diversity enriches community life and inclusion strengthens our shared future.
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About Virginia LULAC
Virginia LULAC is the state chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation’s oldest and largest Latino civil rights advocacy organization. Our mission is to advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, housing, and civil rights of Hispanic Americans in the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond.
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