Virginia Democrat Spanberger Plans Sanctuary State, Targets Youngkin Immigration Order

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger in Virginia has pledged to rescind Governor Glenn Youngkin's Executive Order 47, which requires state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, arguing that it misuses local police resources and undermines community trust. Spanberger characterized the current immigration system as broken and opposed local law enforcement's involvement in immigration enforcement, advocating that immigration matters should be handled at the federal level with proper warrants. In response, Republicans, including Youngkin and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, have criticized Spanberger, accusing her of turning Virginia into a sanctuary state that would jeopardize public safety by protecting dangerous illegal immigrants. Earle-Sears highlighted Spanberger's previous opposition to the Laken Riley Act, a law mandating detention of certain undocumented immigrants charged with crimes, as further evidence of her stance against law enforcement. The immigration issue has become a central and contentious theme in the Virginia governor's race, with Youngkin endorsing Earle-Sears as his successor and emphasizing public safety as a key campaign point. Polls show Spanberger leading Earle-Sears by a narrow margin as the election approaches.