March 14, 2026
Contact: Monica Sarmiento, press@vacir.org, ‭(202) 509-1497‬

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.

March 4, 2026
Monica Sarmiento, press@vacir.org
Ashley Elstad, aelstad@hamkaecenter.org

ICE Oversight Bills Pass the VA House Of Delegates

Richmond, VA – At a time where the Congress has increased funding to facilitate deportation and doubled the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, today the Virginia House of Delegates passed three bills that would provide accountability, oversight and transparency into how our Commonwealth works with ICE. 

The bills passed today are being considered at the General Assembly to protect immigrant communities. They are: 

• SB783: Restricts law enforcement from entering into ICE agreements unless Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) complies with constitutional due process requirements. HB 1441 is the House of Delegates version.
• SB 351: Prohibits federal immigration enforcement in certain protected areas, including courthouses, polling locations, and any facility owned by the Commonwealth that is a hospital or other health care facility, a school or public institution of higher education, or an office of the attorney for the Commonwealth. HB 650 is the House of Delegates version.
• SB 352: Prohibits state and local law-enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while engaged in the performance of their official duties. HB 1482 is the House of Delegates version.

According to the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, as of February 9, 2025, 27 287(g) agreements with ICE remain in 25 Virginia localities. The ACLU released a report stating, when state and local law enforcement support, facilitate, or otherwise assist in such operations, they risk becoming embroiled in these civil rights violations — resulting in legal liability, reputational damage, community distrust, and a decrease in public safety. 

“These bills represent an important step toward disentangling Virginia’s public institutions from a cruel and dehumanizing federal immigration agenda that undermines community safety and trust,” said Sandra Benavente, Advocacy Manager with Ayuda. “At Ayuda, we work every day with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Our clients interact with the justice system to stabilize their lives — seeking protective orders, cooperating in criminal prosecutions, or applying for humanitarian relief such as U visas. These protections only work if survivors feel safe coming forward. When state and local institutions and agencies, like courthouses and law enforcement officers, are perceived as extensions of federal immigration enforcement, survivors retreat into silence. Abuse goes unreported. Exploitation continues. Traffickers operate with impunity. That does not make Virginia safer.”  

Most immigration violations are civil, not criminal. Under the current Presidental Administration, ICE and other federal law enforcement officers have made arrests wearing plainclothes, masks, and have refused to identify themselves upon request from communities. 

“Creating fear should never be a value glorified in the community,” said Monica Sarmiento with the Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights. “The support of policies and voluntary programs the localities are entering into are a drain on resources at a time when Virginia is stuck flipping the bill on Federal budget cuts that are hurting working families. The intimidation tactics break down trust between law enforcement and the community.”

“We know that public safety is strongest when everyone, regardless of immigration status, feels safe calling 911, reporting crimes, and accessing the courts,” said Sandra Benavente, Advocacy Manager with Ayuda. “These bills help restore that trust. We applaud the House of Delegates for advancing legislation that affirms Virginia’s commitment to safety, justice, and dignity for all.” 

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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.

March 2, 2026
Contact:
Monica Sarmiento, press@vacir.org, ‭(202) 509-1497‬

Protecting Immigrant Rights: Virginia Senate Passes Bills to Limit ICE Involvement

Richmond, VA – Today, the Virginia Senate passed two bills that would restrict interactions between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Virginia’s public schools and localities. 

HB 1441 would restrict law enforcement from entering into ICE agreements unless Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) complies with constitutional due process requirements.  

HB 836 prohibits Virginia’s public schools from discriminating against students or families based on their actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status. It also restricts schools, including school resource officers employed by a local law enforcement agency and contractors, and school boards from disclosing information regarding the immigration status of students or their families to law enforcement or immigration agencies, with specific exceptions.

“Attendance in schools has been impacted due to the surveillance and criminalization of immigrant communities. Families, regardless of immigration status, should not live in fear that they may be separated from their loved ones when taking their children to school or striving for an education while attending school,” said Monica Sarmiento, Executive Director of Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights.

Under the 287(g) Task Force Model, local and state employees act as independent federal immigration officers, applying immigration laws to their everyday interactions, with just 40 hours of online training. According to documents obtained by the Legal Aid Justice Center, as of the end of 2025, at least 223 state and local personnel were nominated to act as immigration enforcement, including two security resource officers embedded in public schools in Buckingham and Washington Counties and a behavioral health advocate in Washington County.

“Just recently, a student at Columbia University was taken from her bed in the middle of the night under false pretenses. If that can happen at a private institution, it is more imperative than ever that our students are protected. Senate HB 1441 and HB 836 affirm what our values and the law already make clear: from kindergarten through 12th grade, students have a legal right under Plyler v. Doe to access public education regardless of immigration status — and we have a responsibility to ensure that right is real, safe, and protected,” said Zuraya Tapia-Hadley, CEO of the Dream Project, which provides financial and wrap-around support for students to access higher education. 

According to the American immigration Council, policies that once protected these “sensitive locations” were revoked in January 2025. As a result, the second half of the 2024-2025 school year saw a chilling effect where families were pulling their children out of school, terrified that a parent, family member, or child could be detained or deported, as some students and families have been. In many instances, teachers and local non-profits have been support systems to vulnerable families.

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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.

February 26, 2026
Contact:
Monica Sarmiento, press@vacir.org
Ashley Elstad, aelstad@hamkaecenter.org

Virginia Moves to Defend Birthright Citizenship

Richmond, VA – The Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights (VACIR) applauds Attorney General Jay Jones for filing an amicus brief in defense of birthright citizenship before the U.S. Supreme Court in the high-stakes lawsuit Trump v. Barbara. 

Trump’s executive order would strip away the citizenship of babies born on U.S. soil to wide swaths of parents in our communities. This executive order is blatantly unconstitutional and harms us all. The 14th Amendment guarantees the citizenship of children born in the United States regardless of race, color, or the status and circumstances of their parents. Specifically, it states that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.

Birthright citizenship is a widely popular and cherished part of our Constitution. It represents America’s fundamental promise that all children born on our soil begin life as full and equal members of our national community. This principle has enabled generations of children to pursue their dreams and build a stronger America.  We are proud that Virginia’s Attorney General is in support of defending birthright citizenship for all children.

President of the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans of Virginia (CAPAVA), Kyung Jun said, “We are grateful to Attorney General Jones for finally putting Virginia on the right path. The Asian American community has long defended birthright citizenship. It is critical that we continue to fight to keep birthright citizenship for all communities, and not cower to the Trump Administration’s intimidation tactics.”

“We are thrilled that Attorney General Jones is strongly supporting birthright citizenship,” said Ashley Elstad, Hamkae Center Advocacy Manager. “Over 125 years ago, Americans came together to defend this right in a landmark case brought by Chinese American, Wong Kim Ark, who was born in the United States but was detained when he sought to re-enter the country after traveling abroad to visit family. 128-years later, immigrants are still being unlawfully detained and facing inhumane conditions. From Muslim Bans to ICE kidnappings, our elected leaders must take steps to protect BIPOC and immigrant communities from systematic oppression. As an Asian American organization empowering our community in Virginia, we thank Attorney General Jones for his leadership for Asian Americans and all immigrants.” Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights Board Chair and interim CEO of EMGAGE said Mohamed Gula, “The Trump Administration has long tried to strip the humanity and dignity of our communities, with this Amicus Brief Attorney General Jones assures that our children are given the dignity they deserve.” 

Click here to view the Amicus Brief

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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.

​February 24, 2026

Media Contacts: 

Senator Saddam Azlan Salim, info@salimforsenate.com

Delegate Alfonso Lopez, info@alfonsolopez.org

Monica Sarmiento, press@vacir.org

State of the Union and Governor Spanberger’s Response: Pending Immigration Restrictions in Virginia

This evening, Governor Spanberger delivered the Democratic State of the Union response. This comes on the heels of the Virginia legislature taking critical steps towards enacting legislation to rein in ICE. One of the first actions taken by Governor Spanberger was to rescind Executive Order 47, ending state police agreements with ICE. Her predecessor, Gov. Youngkin, ushered in an explosion of new agreements, forcing local law enforcement to act as ICE agents in their communities. Under the leadership of Governor Spanberger, Virginia is poised to have common-sense solutions on the books, putting community safety over lawless federal abuse. 

The Virginia General Assembly is currently considering Senate Bill 783 and House Bill 1141, which would restrict law enforcement agencies from entering into agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unless ICE follows the constitutional guidelines for due process.

“Just as Governor Spanberger observed from her experience in law enforcement, poorly trained officers create chaos and undermine public safety and trust,” said Delegate Alfonso Lopez. “This is even more evident as we witness federal immigration enforcement act irresponsibly, violate constitutional rights, and harass both naturalized and US-born American citizens. With HB 1441, we can protect Virginia residents and ensure that local and state law enforcement are focused on keeping our communities safe.”

According to the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, 27 local agreements remain in 25 Virginia localities as of February 9, 2025. In Virginia, 287(g) agreements exist in several forms: Warrant Service Model, Jail Enforcement Model, and Task Force Model. 

“Since President Trump’s second term began, every traffic stop and every knock on the door can feel like a crisis for mixed-status families,” said Senator Saddam Azlan Salim. “SB351, SB352, and SB783 reaffirm core freedoms enshrined in our Constitution and the Virginia Declaration of Rights that this President has chosen to ignore. In Virginia, we will always stand up for our values: due process, the rule of law, and keeping communities safe without weaponizing fear against our immigrant neighbors.”

287(g) agreements divert local resources and officials from local community policing. The agreements erode community trust with law enforcement, making some immigrant communities less likely to report crimes and more vulnerable to being targeted by potential offenders.

“We are at a watershed moment. Virginians and communities across the Nation are clamoring for real solutions to rein in ICE. On day 1 of her administration, Governor Spangberger took decisive action to limit collaboration with ICE, and the Virginia State Assembly is working to enact critical legislation to keep communities safe. I look forward to working with our Governor to get these sensible policies across the finish line,” said Monica Sarmiento, Executive Director of the Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights. 

At a time when many Americans are affected by rising costs due to inflation and tariffs, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget has skyrocketed to over $170 billion to increase ICE funding, expand family and adult detention facilities, and build a border wall. In 2025, ICE sent 600 children to federal shelters, with many held for longer than average lengths during prior administrations.

Other bills that are being considered at the General Assembly to protect communities include: 

• SB 351 & HB 650: Prohibits federal immigration enforcement in certain protected areas, including courthouses, polling locations, and any facility owned by the Commonwealth that is a hospital or other health care facility, a school or public institution of higher education, or an office of the attorney for the Commonwealth.
• SB 352 & HB 1482: Prohibits state and local law-enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while engaged in the performance of their official duties.

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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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Press Contact: Kelsey Cowger, Progress VA, 434-484-2795, kelsey@progressva.org
press@vacir.org

ICYMI: Warner, Beyer, Subramanyam, and Walkinshaw Push to Oversee Chantilly ICE Facility Amidst Reports of Severe Overcrowding

Alexandria, VA—After months of attempts to perform their Congressional oversight authority at the ICE field office in Chantilly, VA, this week, Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), and James Walkinshaw (D-VA-11) were finally permitted entry into the facility. The field office, which is not designed as a detention center and lacks beds, showers, hygiene products, or adequate food, has been plagued by reports of hundreds of migrants being forced to sleep on floors for multiple days for weeks at a time. By law, ICE may not prevent members of Congress from entering any facility operated by the Department of Homeland Security, even if their visit is unannounced and their staff members may accompany them with 24 hours’ notice. Nevertheless, Senator Warner and the named Representatives have attempted to gain access for months and have been prevented from entering the facility in Chantilly.

While Senator Warner’s office reports that, upon gaining access to the facility, they were relieved to discover that conditions have improved from recent reports, they add that,

“It should not have taken this long for members of Congress to gain access to a federal facility to conduct lawful oversight. The pervasive overcrowding and unsafe conditions that occurred are the direct consequences of the Trump administration’s mass detention policies and ICE has a legal obligation to ensure that anyone in its custody is treated safely, humanely, and in accordance with federal law. With its budget now tripled in size to unprecedented levels, ICE has no excuse for failing to plan ahead: it must put in place a clear policy to ensure that when a field office reaches capacity, the burden is relieved immediately and not allowed to spiral into a humanitarian crisis.”

“It is outrageous that ICE dragged its feet for months before allowing duly elected members of Congress to perform their legal oversight duties,” said Ashleigh Crocker, Interim Executive Director of Progress Virginia. “This is an unacceptable delay and a dangerous evasion of accountability. We applaud Senator Warner and Representatives Beyer, Subramanyam, and Walkinshaw for refusing to back down and continuing to fight for transparency and humane treatment of migrants swept up in ICE raids. We urge the press to reach out to these members of Congress directly to hear more about their experiences, both in what they saw and the difficulty gaining access to the facility. With the ballooning ICE budget and an administration that believes it can act outside without accountability heir oversight matters now more than ever.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Press Contact: Kelsey Cowger, Progress VA, 434-484-2795, kelsey@progressva.org
press@vacir.org

Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights Speaks Out Against Decision in Vasquez-Perdomo vs. Noem

Alexandria, VA—On Monday, the Supreme Court overturned a federal court’s ruling that federal agents could not detain people and question them about their immigration status based solely on their perceived race, the language they spoke, the jobs they were engaged in, or where they were located. The case was grounded in the Trump Administration’s efforts to engage in sweeping mass deportations, and it came specifically out of the warrantless raids launched by the administration when they sent federal troops into the Los Angeles area in June.

While this is not the final word in the case, the stay means that masked agents of the government will be permitted to resume targeting Latine communities, or anyone perceived to be Latine, and questioning them about their immigration status based on whether or not they speak Spanish (or accented English), what kinds of jobs they appear to be working (particularly manufacturing, building, or agricultural jobs), and/or where they happened to be when they were detained by federal agents (for example, at a home-improvement store or in a neighborhood with a high immigrant population.)

“This decision is devastating to the communities that we serve, who are entitled to the basic Fourth Amendment protections that this court, in our view, has ignored,” said Monica Sarmiento, Executive Director of the Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights (VACIR). “It is dangerous to allow federal agents to detain people without a warrant or reasonable suspicion, and giving a green light to detentions based simply on racial profiling erodes the constitutional protections that serve us all, whether we are immigrants or not. Here in Virginia, where immigrant communities are vital to every corner of our economy and civic life, this ruling further opens the door to harassment, fear, and abuse under the guise of enforcement, further eroding trust between law enforcement and our communities. We’ve seen how quickly this kind of unchecked authority can spiral into widespread civil rights violations. We will continue to fight this administration’s racist detention and deportation policies in the courts and at home.”

Background:

• Full text of Vasquez-Perdomo vs. Noem
• On June 6, 2025, federal agents in Southern California began a sweeping series of warrantless raids and detentions at schools, homes, and workplaces. The government admits that the detentions were made based on racial profiling, the language spoken by the detainees, and the jobs they appeared to be performing, not through the usual standard of ‘reasonable suspicion’. In the first month of these attacks on immigrant communities, at least 2,800 arrests were made, and detainees were routinely held without access to counsel.
• US District Judge Maame Frimpong issued an order on July 11 that prohibited the government agents deployed to California from making immigration stops unless they had reasonable suspicion that the person they were stopping was an undocumented immigrant (based on factors beyond the detainee’s race, language, geographic area, or job.)
• Vasquez-Perdomo vs. Noem decided whether the Supreme Court should stay a district court order preventing federal immigration officers from conducting immigration detention stops without reasonable suspicion in seven southern California counties and in the city of Los Angeles.
• The stay was granted on September 8, 2025. No arguments were made in the case. Justice Kavanaugh wrote the concurrence in the 6-3 decision; Justice Sotomayor dissented from the ruling, joined by justices Kagan and Brown Jackson.
• The stay was part of a recent uptick in consequential decisions being made via the emergency or so-called “shadow docket”, where there is often limited (and occasionally) no given reasoning for the rulings (as opposed to the extensive reasoning given in merits document cases.)

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For Immediate Release

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Contact: press@vacir.org or (804) 376-1456

Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights (VACIR) Urges Immediate Action to End Inhumane Conditions at Chantilly ICE Facility

VACIR calls for federal oversight after reports of overcrowding, lack of food, and denial of legal access at Virginia’s ICE field office.

Chantilly, Virginia – The Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights (VACIR) has received credible reports that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Field Office at 14797 Murdock St., Chantilly, VA 20151 has exceeded its holding capacity, creating inhumane and unsafe conditions for detainees.

Reports from attorneys and advocates indicate that individuals inside are facing a lack of clean drinking water, insufficient food, and overcrowded, cramped spaces. Attorneys have also been denied access to their clients, raising grave concerns about detainees’ well-being and basic rights.

“Attorneys who represent people detained at this facility are being blocked from seeing their clients,” said Monica Sarmiento, Executive Director of VACIR. “One client was held for seven days without any access to their lawyer. This is a blatant denial of due process, and attorneys cannot be assured of their clients’ safety or well-being. This is unacceptable.”

Sarmiento added: “Everyone, regardless of status, deserves humane treatment. Generations before us fought to secure the right of due process — rights that are clearly being denied in Chantilly today.”

VACIR is calling on elected officials and the public to demand accountability in the following ways:

• Call the White House Comment Line at (202) 456-1111 and urge immediate action to end these inhumane conditions.
• Contact Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and Congressmen Alex Vindman, Don Beyer, and Suhas Subramanyam to request an urgent oversight visit to the Chantilly ICE Field Office.
• Demand that conditions be brought up to code and that due process rights be protected for all individuals detained there.

Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights (VACIR) is a multi-racial, multi-ethnic coalition of organizations that exists to win dignity, power, and quality of life for all immigrant and refugee communities across Virginia.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 14, 2025

Media Contacts

Michael Sandoval
michael.sandoval@protectdemocracy.org

Advancement Project Media Team
mediadesk@advancementproject.org 

Kayla Vix
media@lwv.org

Federal Judge Rejects Broad Bid to Toss VACIR Voting Rights Case

Plaintiffs’ core claims proceed and the case moves to discovery.

Alexandria, VA — In a major win for voting rights and the rule of law, Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, largely denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss in Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights (VACIR) v. Beals. The ruling keeps plaintiffs’ central claims intact and clears the way for discovery.

Filed by the Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights, African Communities Together, and the League of Women Voters of Virginia, the lawsuit alleges that a state program that uses government records to flag supposed non-citizens for removal from the voter rolls is actually removing eligible citizens in violation of federal law. Plaintiffs assert this program violates the National Voter Registration Act and risks disenfranchising eligible voters, particularly naturalized citizens.

“All Virginia citizens have the same sacred right to vote, regardless of whether they were born here or naturalized,” said Monica Sarmiento, executive director of the Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights. “Virginia continues to remove eligible voters from the rolls through this illegal purge, and this must be stopped.”

“This ruling ensures the League can continue its fight to ensure thousands of Virginians—many of them naturalized citizens—will not be wrongfully silenced in upcoming elections,” said Joan Porte, president of the League of Women Voters of Virginia. “We are proud to keep seeking justice for lawfully registered voters who deserve to have their voices heard at the polls.”

“This week’s ruling in our favor is more than a legal victory-it is a beacon of hope for our community. It reminds us that the moral arc of the universe still bends toward truth and justice, but only when we have the courage to stand together and demand it. At a time when our institutions have too often failed us, this decision demonstrates that united action can push back against assaults on our rights and liberties and win. This is not the end of the fight. It is a call to keep pressing forward, to hold the state of Virginia and the country as a whole to its highest ideals, and to ensure that the promise of democracy is real for all of us,” said Solomon Ayalew, DMV Chapter Director, African Communities Together 

“The court’s ruling critically affirms that the League and our co-plaintiffs are the appropriate parties to bring this case, which is key to protecting the ability of voters to challenge anti-democratic laws and policies,” said Marcia Johnson, chief of activation and justice at the League of Women Voters. “This victory is a testament to the League’s unwavering commitment to ensuring every eligible voter can participate without fear of being wrongfully removed from the rolls.”

“This decision confirms what our clients have said from day one: Virginia cannot rely on error-prone data and rushed procedures to strip eligible citizens from the rolls,” said Anna Dorman, counsel at Protect Democracy. “The defendants’ broad attempt to end this case at the threshold largely failed. We look forward to proving our case and ensuring that Virginians’ voting rights are protected in full.”

“As this ruling affirms, the law and the facts are on our side and we will now have the chance to fully prove our case,” said Ryan Snow, counsel with the Voting Rights Project of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “Virginia cannot continue to remove countless American citizens from the rolls in violation of federal law based on DMV data it knows is faulty and out-of-date, all to perpetuate falsehoods about noncitizens voting—only American citizens vote in our elections.”

“Our democracy is strongest when every American has the freedom to vote. Voter purges, especially when done close to an election, deny qualified American citizens that essential freedom” said Danielle Lang, senior director for voting rights at Campaign Legal Center. “When Congress passed the National Voter Registration Act over 30 years ago, it ensured that Virginia and other states cannot remove registered voters within 90 days of an election and cannot discriminate in how they conduct voter roll maintenance. We are pleased to see that our case, filed with the rights of every Virginia voter in mind, is able to proceed.”

“Virginia continues to brazenly implement a flawed voter purge program, including right before elections, that has removed a disproportionately high number of new citizens and people of color from the rolls,” said Hani Mirza, Director of the Power and Democracy Program at Advancement Project. “Virginia’s actions are in clear violation of federal law. We welcome the Court’s ruling allowing our case to progress and will continue to fight to protect the right to vote for all eligible Virginia voters, including new citizen voters and voters of color.”

By rejecting most of the motion to dismiss, the Court affirmed that these claims warrant full consideration and should be resolved on the facts.

For more information visit: protectdemocracy.org

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For Immediate Release

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Contact: press@vacir.org or (804) 376-1456

VACIR Opposes the Deployment of the Virginia National Guard to Terrorize Immigrants

Richmond, VA – Governor Youngkin has announced the use of the Virginia National Guard for ICE operations. VACIR members are outraged at the misuse of the Virginia National Guard services that have historically been used to help people will now be used to frighten communities.

Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice VACIR representative and immigration attorney Dean Wanderer said the following, “Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ), based on our belief in the inherent worth and inalienable rights of all people including immigrants, rejects policies and practices that deprive people of fundamental freedoms. We oppose use of federal or state military force to enforce civil immigration laws, and support the ability of our neighbors to live, work and participate in their communities without fear of sudden arrests and detention.”

ACLU People Power Fairfax VACIR representative and immigration attorney Diane Alejandro said in response to the Governor’s actions, “Governor Youngkin seems intent on following in Trump’s cruel and inhumane footsteps. His claim that the National Guard will only “support” law enforcement is legally irrelevant; guard members will be facilitating ICE’s arrests of people in Virginia who likely have never had a criminal record, and face insurmountable challenges for their constitutional right of due process. Shame on Governor Youngkin for failing Virginians.

Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights (VACIR) is a multi-racial and multi-ethnic coalition of 51 organizations that exists to win dignity, power and quality of life for all immigrant and refugee communities.

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For Immediate Release

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Contact: press@vacir.org or (804) 376-1456

The Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights Condemns the Inhumane Actions of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in Arlington, Virginia

Arlington, VA – In the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 4, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), arrived in Arlington, Virginia, alongside the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, in a heavily armored vehicle to arrest one person with a prior removal order.

The arrest took place in a densely populated Arlington apartment complex, instilling fear among neighbors and witnesses. At the forefront of the operation was Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose presence demonstrates the administration’s commitment to harsh immigration enforcement tactics.

Inside the targeted home were two children and their undocumented uncle, who has no criminal history. The children’s lives have been upended, with no plan in place for their custody or care. The uncle was ordered to turn himself in to immigration authorities within 48 hours.

This operation was not only an unnecessary display of force but also an exorbitant use of taxpayer dollars. Yet, that financial burden is insignificant compared to this family’s inhumane treatment. The children are now separated from their caregivers, left without legal guardianship or protection. Meanwhile, their uncle, with no criminal history, now faces the very real threat of deportation.

After witnessing such an aggressive show of force, neighbors told VACIR leaders they now feel unsafe in their own community.

The Secretary stood cold and unmoved as the family was torn apart for the sake of sensationalism and media attention. Her comments that separating children from their family was a “consequence” was particularly callous. The Trump Administration’s policies to indiscriminately arrest undocumented residents without criminal records are reckless. These actions do not make our communities safer; instead, they deteriorate trust in law enforcement and erode faith in our nation’s commitment to protecting children and families.

The Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights unequivocally condemns the Trump Administration and Secretary Noem for their cruel and dehumanizing tactics. We stand in solidarity with immigrant communities and demand an end to these inhumane enforcement practices.

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For Immediate Release

Thursday, February 27, 2025

Contact: press@vacir.org or (804) 376-1456

The Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights Opposes Governor Youngkin’s Executive Order Forty-Seven

Alexandria, VA – Undocumented Virginians play a vital role in our Commonwealth. They pay taxes, actively contribute to our localities, and are beloved members of our communities. The overwhelming majority of undocumented residents desperately want to obtain status, but due to Congressional failure have been unable to do so.

Governor Youngkin’s Executive Order Forty-Seven continues dangerous xenophobic stereotypes of hard-working immigrants that are not founded in fact. A 2024 study by the American Immigration Council showed that immigrants are substantially less likely than U.S.-born individuals to commit crimes. “As immigration increased, the crime rate declined, according to the American Immigration Council’s analysis of demographics and crime data. Between 1980 and 2022, the immigrant share of the U.S. population more than doubled, from 6.2% to 13.9%, while the total crime rate dropped by 60.4%, from 5,900 crimes per 100,000 people to 2,335 crimes per 100,000 people. Specifically, the violent crime rate fell by 34.5% and the property crime rate fell by 63.3%.

These statistics challenge the narrative that higher immigration leads to higher crime rates, showing instead that crime rates have dropped even as the number of immigrants has grown.

Governor Youngkin’s reckless executive order diverts already strained state police and state correctional facilities resources to carry out duties that should belong squarely to the federal government. This harms community safety by needlessly targeting immigrant community members, increasing fear, and eroding trust which could lead to unreported crimes leading to the victimization of immigrants.

Undocumented Virginians make up less than 3% of the Virginia population. In a time when our Commonwealth is facing historic economic attacks on federal workers, our Governor has decided to terrorize immigrant farm workers, domestic workers, and other essential workers.

The real security threat is misrepresenting facts about immigrant communities, sowing divides, and fueling hate which is morally reprehensible. Shame on Governor Youngkin! He is failing Virginians.

The Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights (VACIR) is a multi-racial and multi-ethnic coalition of 51 organizations that exists to win dignity, power and quality of life for all immigrant and refugee communities.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Contact: Kelsey Cowger, kelsey@progressva.org

LWV: Shannon Augustus, saugustus@lwv.org

CLC: Emily Burns, eburns@campaignlegalcenter.org

LCCRUL: Lacy Crawford, lcrawford@lawyerscommittee.org

Advancement Project: Jennifer Dillon, jdillon@advancementproject.org

African Communities Together: Assefash Makonnen, assefash@africans.us

Virginia Immigrant Rights & Voting Rights Groups Outraged at SCOTUS Decision Allowing Virginia to Disenfranchise Voters

A recording of a press conference on this matter can be found here.

Washington, DC—The Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights (VACIR), the League of Women Voters of Virginia (LWVVA), and African Communities Together (ACT) are disappointed and alarmed the Supreme Court of the United States has allowed Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to wrongfully remove qualified voters from the voting rolls less than one week before a federal election.This misguided ruling allows Virginia to disenfranchise over 1600 eligible Virginia voters based on unreliable data and discriminatory lies.

“Voting is a sacred privilege only afforded to U.S. citizens. Governor Youngkin and Attorney General Miyares’s efforts to target naturalized citizen voters yielded the disenfranchisement of both natural born citizens and naturalized citizens,” Monica Sarmiento, Executive Director of the Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights, said. “We are deeply disappointed that the vicious voting rights attacks from the Governor and Attorney General have been permitted to prevail. It is a dangerous occurrence when lawful U.S. citizens are carelessly removed from the voter rolls. Although we did not win this battle, VACIR will continue to fight for the right of eligible U.S. citizens to vote.”

“The League is incredibly disappointed in this decision,” said Caren Short, director of legal and research at the League of Women Voters of the United States. “The Supreme Court should protect voters from disenfranchisement, but instead they are allowing an illegal purge of eligible voters days before a federal election. Every voter has the fundamental right to participate in our democracy, and this ruling allows that fundamental right to be stripped away based on xenophobic lies. The League of Women Voters will never cease in our fight to protect the rights of all voters.”

“Today’s ruling is not only a disappointment but it further validates the attacks on voter rights across the country at a critical time for our country, when the voices of our communities are being drowned out by racist and xenophobic rhetoric,” Solomon Ayalew, DMV Chapter Director of African Communities Together, said. “ACT will continue to fight for the rights of voters and do everything we can to ensure naturalized citizens, who have had their right to vote challenged and have been casualties in this systematic removal, are heard.”

“The ruling today is disappointing and a loss for eligible voters, and only underscores the fact that a major political movement has invested so much in a dangerous strategy to discredit and undermine our electoral process,” Anna Dorman, Counsel at Protect Democracy, said. “We’re watching the harms incurred by that strategy play out right now in realtime in states across the U.S., as thousands of eligible voters’ right to participate in our democracy is being questioned and is in limbo.”

“To say this decision is a disappointment is an understatement. The Supreme Court just ignored a key provision of the National Voter Registration Act and the clear fact that Virginia purged eligible voters on the eve of the election,” said Ryan Snow, counsel with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “The list of purged voters includes both new citizens and people born in the U.S., all of whom have the same sacred right to vote. The decision to block the district court’s order stopping this purge is a blow to the many eligible Virginian voters who were unlawfully purged and will now face uncertainty about their ability to cast a ballot that will be counted.”

“The Supreme Court allowing Virginia to engage in a last-minute purge that includes many known eligible citizens in the final days before an election is outrageous,” said Danielle Lang, Campaign Legal Center’s Senior Director on Voting Rights. “But the voters will decide this election, not the courts, and CLC will continue to fight alongside Virginians to ensure that they are able to participate in our democracy. Eligible Virginia voters should know that regardless of this purge they can register to vote on Election Day and cast their ballots.”

The Supreme Court’s ruling today is a huge loss for Virginia voters. The court’s decision allows the last-minute illegal purging of eligible voters who are now at risk of being disenfranchised in Tuesday’s election.” said John Powers, Director of the Power and Democracy Program at Advancement Project. “Ensuring that every eligible voter can vote is a bedrock of our democracy. We will continue to fight for free, fair, and accessible elections for every voter.”

The state of Virginia allows voters to register at their polling place. Voters in Virginia who find themselves removed from the rolls should re-register at their polling place when they go to cast their ballot. Voters can learn more and check their registration at VOTE411.org.

Any voters with questions, including on how to use Virginia’s Same Day Registration process, should call or text the Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE, or call one of the bilingual Election Protection hotlines at 888-VE-Y-VOTA (Spanish); 844-YALLA-US (Arabic); or 888-API-VOTE (Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Punjabi, Tagalog, Urdu, Vietnamese).

Background:

VACIR, LWVVA, and ACT filed their response to Virginia’s application for a stay on October 29, 2024. Read the brief here. Learn more about the case here.

Former members of Congress also filed an amicus brief against the voter purge, saying “the daily systematic removal program recently undertaken by Applicants is precisely what the NVRA’s Quiet Period Provision forbids. It is not a close case; it is instead a paradigmatic violation of Congress’s design.”

The lawsuit called on the court to do the following:

• Declare the Purge Program violates the National Voter Registration Act of 1993
• Order Defendants to stop the Purge Program
• Order Defendants to instruct local officials to reinstate to the voter rolls anyone removed through the Purge Program, except those who confirmed they are not a citizen, and ensure they can cast a regular ballot
• Order Defendants to notify affected voters that they remain registered and can cast a regular ballot if they are eligible.

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) filed its own lawsuit on October 11, alleging Virginia’s Purge Program is systematically removing voters from the rolls within 90 days of a federal election, in violation of the National Voter Registration Act.

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For Immediate Release

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Contact: press@vacir.org or (804) 376-1456

VACIR & LWVVA Sue Virginia Department of Elections in 

Defense of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993

Alexandria, VA – On the evening of Monday, October 7, 2024 the Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights (VACIR) in partnership with member organization the League of Women Voters of Virginia filed a lawsuit against the Virginia Board of Elections and Attorney General Jason Miyares for multiple alleged violations of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

The challenged policy is a result of Executive Order 35, which was signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin on August 7, 2024 and requires state and local election officials to remove individuals from the state voter registration list if Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) records do not indicate U.S. citizenship. However, as the complaint explains, Virginia drivers’ licenses are available to non-citizens and can remain valid for up to eight years, meaning people who obtained driver’s licenses as non-citizens, subsequently became U.S. citizens, and lawfully registered to vote are being unlawfully purged from the voter rolls based on outdated DMV information.

President of the League of Women Voters Virginia Joan Porte said, “The League of Women Voters of Virginia has a 104 year history of standing up for free and fair access to the polls for all Americans. We are proud to stand up for voters today against the Governor’s purging of voters based on unreliable and out of date information.” VACIR Board Chair and Virginia State Director of EMGAGE Mohamed Gula noted, “The careless purging of voters without proper fact checking or oversight is a direct assault of our American democracy. Executive Order 35 is a targeted attack on naturalized citizens, and is the latest of many unsubstantiated policy attacks based on political misinformation and not facts. Voting is a patriotic privilege that generations of naturalized citizens have fought and died for. We will defend the right of all US citizens to vote and demand all Virginia elected officials abide by the National Voter Registration Act.”

Civic Engagement Director of African Communities Together Gigi Traore stated, “A critical part of the American Dream is a right to access the ballot box. Executive Order 35 and its faulty administrative process blocks that right for Virginia’s eligible African immigrant community. As a partner organization, African Communities Together stands in support of VACIR and the LWVVA.”

The lawsuit alleges that these systematic purges of Virginia’s voter rolls within 90 days of a federal election violate the National Voter Registration Act and risk improper removal of eligible voters, particularly those who are naturalized U.S. citizens. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Campaign Legal Center, the Protect Democracy Project, and Advancement Project are representing VACIR and the LWVVA in the lawsuit. “The right to vote is fundamental and foundational to our democracy, and states have a responsibility to ensure that eligible voters are not erroneously removed from the voter rolls. Instead, Virginia is fast-tracking removals based on faulty and outdated DMV data without doing anything to verify its accuracy,” said Ryan Snow, Counsel with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “This purge program will disenfranchise eligible New American voters, who are disproportionately voters of color, on the eve of an election.”

Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights (VACIR) is a multi-racial and multi-ethnic coalition of 49 organizations that exists to win dignity, power and quality of life for all immigrant and refugee communities.

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