Youngkin Pushes to Cut Funding for Localities That Don’t Follow Immigration Enforcement Rules

Ahead of his annual budget presentation next week, Gov. Glenn Youngkin unveiled a proposal aimed at limiting state funding to localities that adopt “sanctuary city” policies. Under the plan, areas that refuse to comply with federal immigration laws, particularly in deporting undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes, would lose state funds.

The term “sanctuary city” refers to jurisdictions that limit cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), particularly regarding the detention or deportation of undocumented immigrants. If Youngkin’s proposal becomes part of the state budget, localities that implement such policies could see a reduction in state funding typically allocated to local police departments. Additionally, the state would withhold per diem payments to local and regional jails through the Compensation Board.

The proposal also mandates that local law enforcement and jail officials notify ICE 48 hours before releasing immigrants with criminal convictions and no legal status.

Youngkin’s administration highlighted two recent incidents to support the proposal. One involved an immigrant in the U.S. illegally with a criminal record, who allegedly raped a woman in Herndon, Virginia. Court documents confirmed the man’s previous criminal history. The administration also pointed to an instance in Fairfax County, where an undocumented individual suspected of sex crimes against minors was not detained.

Several localities in Virginia, including Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County, and Richmond, have enacted policies that limit the involvement of law enforcement in identifying immigration status. While most of these policies still comply with federal immigration law, they restrict efforts to proactively identify individuals who may be in the country illegally.

For example, Arlington’s 2022 Trust Policy ensures that the city will comply with federal and state regulations mandating cooperation with ICE. However, the policy limits the sharing of personal information that could be used for immigration enforcement. Richmond, however, has a 2017 directive from Mayor Levar Stoney that directs noncompliance with ICE. In a report from June 2024, Richmond City Jail and other facilities in Virginia were listed as “non-compliant” with ICE.

As of late November, nearly 1,000 incarcerated individuals in Virginia were under open immigration detainers, according to the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).

For Youngkin’s proposal to take effect, it must be approved by the state legislature during budget negotiations for the 2025 fiscal year.