Governor Glenn Youngkin appears to be setting the stage for Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears’ 2025 gubernatorial campaign by stirring up controversy over immigration policies.
The Republican governor, who faces a term limit, announced a “no sanctuary cities” budget proposal on Thursday. This plan would withhold funding from localities that claim to be sanctuary cities, mandating that local police fully cooperate with federal authorities on immigration enforcement.
As part of the initiative, Youngkin highlighted the recent arrest of a Honduran immigrant on rape charges in Fairfax County, blaming the county’s “sanctuary policies” for allowing the alleged offender to be released without Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) notification. “She was raped by an illegal immigrant with an extensive criminal history,” Youngkin stated at a press conference, seemingly overlooking the systemic issue: the suspect was released early from a 50-day sentence for an unrelated offense due to jail overcrowding—a problem unrelated to immigration policies.
The proposal is unlikely to gain traction in the Democrat-controlled Virginia General Assembly. Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax County, criticized Youngkin’s approach, stating, “Given that the governor has already politicized this problem, that’s not going to help get anything passed. If he’s serious, he should tone down the rhetoric and engage in real dialogue.”
Youngkin’s focus on immigration echoes strategies from the Republican playbook, which often rely on amplifying fears about immigrant communities. Critics have drawn parallels between his rhetoric and former President Donald Trump’s inflammatory language, which frequently labeled immigrants as criminals to galvanize certain voter demographics.
Sophia Gregg, senior immigrants’ rights attorney at ACLU of Virginia, dismissed the proposal as “fearmongering.” She noted that with over a million immigrants residing in Virginia—most of whom have lived in the state for more than a decade—it is out of touch with the reality of Virginia’s demographics.
Youngkin’s statement in his press release was in line with this divisive rhetoric: “Criminals who are in the United States illegally will be turned over to ICE. We must stop the cycle of violence and crime enabled by some local governments. Virginia is not a sanctuary state, and we will not allow localities to become ‘sanctuary cities.’ If local governments choose to prioritize pro-illegal immigrant groups over their citizens, we will cut off their funding.”
Lt. Gov. Earle-Sears, a Jamaican immigrant herself, has echoed the governor’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of law enforcement’s cooperation with immigration authorities. “The rule of law is not negotiable,” she stated. However, critics note her account of her immigration story omits key details about her personal involvement in the process.
The opposition to the proposal includes voices from Virginia’s immigrant community, such as Nerbir Rodríguez, a Fairfax County resident for 17 years and local business owner. “With this proposal to end supportive programs, I feel unsafe and afraid that my family may be separated,” Rodríguez said. “We don’t want these racist laws in our state because they only promote hatred, harm our community, and weaken our economic contributions.”
Luis Aguilar, Virginia director of CASA, also spoke out against the proposal, warning that it undermines public safety and trust. “How can anyone, immigrant or not, turn to law enforcement if they fear deportation or discrimination?” Aguilar asked. “Trust is the cornerstone of a safe community, and this plan destroys it.”
Aguilar further emphasized the harmful impacts of the policy: “Youngkin’s budget plan divides us. It pits communities against each other, drives a wedge between law enforcement and the people they serve, and sows fear while punishing cities that support immigrant families. This is not protection—it’s division. CASA stands firmly against this dangerous proposal.”
Through such measures, Youngkin seems to be leveraging divisive immigration rhetoric not for genuine governance but to score political points—a tactic that some argue sacrifices the unity and safety of Virginia’s diverse communities.