we stand ready to work with you on solutions to strengthen Virginia’s security and put the interests of the Commonwealth first
Work with Governor Spanberger to restore cooperation between state and federal law enforcement and strengthen Virginia's security.
Occurrences
Evidence
The letter says the members oppose the administration’s move to rescind law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration services and asks Governor Spanberger to modify the executive actions and reinstate the prior cooperative policies.
The governor said her amendments would clarify how Virginia will continue to cooperate with federal law enforcement. The release says House Bill 1441 and Senate Bill 783 set a framework for Virginia law enforcement agencies working with ICE under a valid judicial order and allow joint state-federal task force work.
The governor signed Executive Order 16, which prohibits use of state property in furtherance of federal immigration enforcement while saying the administration is acting to strengthen public safety and reaffirm federal law enforcement accountability.
Griffith said Congress would vote on a resolution memorializing fallen officers and thanked Ninth District law enforcement officers and their families for their sacrifices.
The article quotes Spanberger's office as saying Virginia Department of Corrections continues notifying ICE when people born outside the United States are in state custody, and that Virginia state law enforcement agencies continue to participate in task forces and inter-agency cooperation with federal agencies.
Assessments
Griffith took an official step toward the goal by urging Governor Spanberger to restore prior cooperation, and Virginia still retained some state-federal law-enforcement coordination channels. But the record does not show a full restoration of the broader cooperation he promised, and later actions suggest the issue remained contested and only partially aligned with his stated goal.
Griffith made a concrete same-term effort by joining the February 5, 2026 Virginia GOP delegation letter asking Governor Spanberger to restore prior state-federal law enforcement cooperation policies. Subsequent state action showed some cooperation framework remained or was clarified, including cooperation under valid judicial orders and joint task force work, which supports partial progress. However, later Executive Order 16 restricted use of state property for federal immigration enforcement, and the record does not show Griffith and Spanberger broadly restored cooperation or fully strengthened Virginia security as promised. The outcome is therefore partial rather than delivered, with credit for a serious official effort.