Good stuff; see below for press releases by Del. Alfonso Lopez (great work!), the Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights (VACIR) and State Senator Saddam Salim.
IMMIGRATION AND ICE 287(g) PROTECTIONS (HB 1441) PASSED OUT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY DELEGATE LOPEZ
RICHMOND, VA.—Today, HB 1441, championed by Delegate Alfonso Lopez (HD-03) passed out of conference committee. HB 1441 was passed by a 63-35 and 21-19 vote respectively in the House and Senate and will now go to Governor Spanberger’s desk.
As increasingly reckless and dangerous federal immigration enforcement undermines public safety in the Commonwealth, HB 1441 makes the necessary changes to protect Virginians from the same lawlessness that left two American citizens dead in Minnesota and countless others harassed because of their accent or skin color. The bill strictly limits all state and local law enforcement participation in federal civil immigration enforcement activities to situations where there is a valid judicial warrant, rather than an administrative warrant simply signed by another ICE agent. This bill also protects against abusive tactics and holds ICE accountable to the same standards as Virginia law enforcement in 287g and other contracts for immigration enforcement.
“After months of working and planning with stakeholders, General Assembly leadership, and both the Spanberger Transition Team and Administration, I’m incredibly proud that this legislation has passed both chambers,” said Delegate Lopez. “Local and state police must be able to commit to the work of public safety, and this bill will make sure their time and resources stay in the community and not unnecessarily aiding federal immigration enforcement activities.”
Along with this bill, Delegate Lopez is pleased to report that HB 650 from Delegate Katrina Callsen (HD-54) and HB 1482 from Delegate Charlie Schmidt (HD-77) were also passed by the General Assembly. Lopez helped develop both bills in order to limit immigration enforcement activities in certain protected places, and to make sure state and local law enforcement properly identify themselves to the public like any other police officer (limitations on mask, etc.). His HB 1440, which limited ICE actions in schools and hospitals, and HB 1442, which limited activities around polling places, were both incorporated into HB 650.
With these combined pieces of legislation, Virginia will guarantee that community safety and trust remain at the forefront of how we address policing. Delegate Lopez looks forward to Governor Spanberger’s actions on these bills.
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Delegate Alfonso Lopez represents the 3rd House of Delegates District – which includes parts of Arlington County & the City of Alexandria, and serves as Chair of the House Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources Committee and the Labor & Workforce Subcommittee. He has been a member of the House of Delegates since 2012.
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VA ICE Restriction Bills Head to Governor Spanberger’s Desk
Richmond, VA – Around the country, communities have watched Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operate with little transparency and even less accountability. Today in Virginia, that begins to change.
The Virginia General Assembly has passed a slate of bills that would bring long-overdue accountability, oversight, and transparency to the way ICE interacts with our communities. Together, these measures move Virginia toward a future where immigrant and refugee families can live, work, and learn without fear.
The following bills passed today include:
Restricts Local ICE Agreements (SB783 & HB1441): Restricts law enforcement from entering into ICE agreements unless Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) complies with constitutional due process requirements.
Protection of Sensitive Locations against ICE (SB351 & HB650): Shields sensitive locations by requiring a judicial warrant to merit entry—such as public schools, courthouses, and hospitals —from ICE enforcement actions so that people can safely seek education, medical care, and support.
Prohibits Law-Enforcement From Wearing Face Coverings And Requires Visible Identification from Law-Enforcement (HB1482 & SB352): Ensures that law-enforcement officers cannot wear masks while on duty except under certain circumstances and must display identification that people can clearly see.
“This past year, we have seen the violations of constitutional rights by ICE, fear towards masked agents who claim to be federal officials, attempts to deport detainees to countries they are not from, and individuals who are on the cusp of becoming American citizens being robbed of the opportunity despite following the rules,” said Monica Sarmiento, Executive Director of Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights. “Under the Trump Administration, these arrests are numbers to hit goals to brag about and push an anti-immigrant narrative, but to our families, it is robbing them of a future. When localities work with ICE agents who have repeatedly failed to follow our constitution, people lose faith in the system that is intended to protect them. The Virginia General Assembly is doing the right thing by pushing forth policies to protect families and heal from the terror they have endured.”
According to the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, across the nation, media reports have described ICE raids at or near previously protected locations like schools, hospitals, child care centers, and courthouses. There have also been documented incidents of masked and unidentified ICE agents apprehending individuals and escalating situations, including at least eight instances in 2026 that culminated in the loss of life at the hands of federal ICE agents or while in ICE custody. Such practices can discourage victims and witnesses from reporting crimes or seeking help, weakening community trust and public safety.
“Today is a major win for immigrant communities across Virginia. When people trust that local institutions are safe and independent from ICE, our communities are stronger, safer, and more just for everyone. At a time when immigrants across the country continue to face cruel, unconstitutional policies and tactics, Virginia is sending an important message: Our Commonwealth will stand on the right side of history by refusing to participate in practices that tear communities apart,” said Sandra Benavente, Advocacy Manager, Ayuda.
“No one should be jailed for their immigration status. We want to thank Delegate Lopez, Senator Salim, and Governor Spanberger for prioritizing the safety of all Virginians,” said Amica Center for Immigrant Rights.
In addition to the ICE accountability measures, the General Assembly passed several other bills this session that would make Virginia more welcoming and supportive of immigrant communities, including:
Extension of Driver Privilege Cards (HB911 & SB446): Aligns the validity of limited-duration licenses, driver privilege cards, permits, and identification privilege cards with that of standard driver’s licenses—up to 8 years—so that immigrant residents can drive to work, school, and medical appointments with greater stability and peace of mind.
Safe Access To Public Education (HB836 & SB 491): Prohibits Virginia’s public schools from discriminating against students or families based on their actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status. It restricts schools, school resource officers, contractors, and school boards from disclosing information about the immigration status of students or their families to law enforcement or immigration agencies, with narrow, specific exceptions. This ensures students can focus on learning rather than on whether it is safe to step into their classrooms.
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Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights (VACIR) is a multi-racial and multi-ethnic coalition of organizations that exists to win dignity, power, and quality of life for all immigrant and refugee communities.
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Statement from Senator Salim on the passage of SB351, SB352 & SB783 To End ICE Abuses in the Commonwealth of Virginia
“I want to thank all the advocates, members of the General Assembly, the ACLU of Virginia, CASA, VACIR, and every community leader who joined me from day one in this fight to stop the inhumanity and cruelty of the Trump administration. Together, we have moved Virginia closer to a future where local police focus on community safety, not carrying out a political agenda.
SB 351 protects anyone who is required to come to court—victims, witnesses, families, and defendants alike — by protecting them from civil arrest on their way to or from the courthouse, and requiring a judicial warrant before they can be taken into custody within a courthouse, school, or hospital. SB 352 makes clear that if you are wielding the power of the state in Virginia, you may not hide behind a mask or an unmarked uniform. Law enforcement officers must be identifiable to the public they serve. SB 783 reins in backdoor 287(g)-style agreements by setting limits on when and how state and local officers may perform federal immigration functions, and providing real oversight instead of quiet deals that trade away community trust.
For immigrants, these bills mean something very basic but very profound: you should be able to live your life without the fear that you or your family will be disappeared. For Virginians as a whole, they restore the promise that law enforcement is here to protect our communities, not to operate as a masked, unaccountable militia. For the Commonwealth, they affirm our constitutional authority to manage our own institutions, safeguard due process, and ensure that public power is exercised according to the law, and in full view of the people.
My bills send a strong message: Virginia will not be a staging ground for an unconstitutional mass deportation campaign. With SB 351, SB 352, and SB 783 on the Governor’s desk, Virginia is choosing the rule of law over fear, transparency over secrecy, and the safety and dignity of our communities over chaos and intimidation.”
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