There is a pattern of increased ICE enforcement throughout Virginia in 2025.
- Statewide surge: Arrests by ICE agents in Virginia rose significantly in the first half of 2025. For example, one analysis found that more than 4,000 ICE arrests occurred in the first seven months of the year—more than five times the number during the same period in 2024.
- State-federal cooperation: The rise in enforcement followed an executive order signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin in February 2025. The order directed state police and corrections officials to enter into 287(g) agreements with ICE, deputizing them to assist with federal immigration enforcement.
- Focus on courthouses: Reports from elsewhere in the state, such as Chesterfield County, describe ICE agents making detentions at courthouses, which has been criticized by some advocates.
Statewide context for increased enforcement:
- Rising arrest rates: Virginia has become a focal point for ICE, with arrests in the state rising significantly throughout 2025. One analysis found over 4,000 arrests in the first seven months of the year, a nearly threefold increase over the same period in the previous year.
- Expanded state cooperation: In February 2025, Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 47, which directed state agencies to increase collaboration with federal immigration authorities.
- Virginia Homeland Security Task Force (VHSTF): The Governor's office announced in July that the VHSTF, a federal-state partnership, had made over 2,500 arrests since February 2025.
- Use of 287(g) agreements: Executive Order 47 directed the Virginia State Police and the Department of Corrections to enter into 287(g) agreements with ICE. This allows trained state and local law enforcement officers to perform federal immigration functions.
- Arrests at courthouses: Reports from August 2025 indicate that ICE has been detaining people at courthouses, with an analysis showing that a majority of those arrested in Virginia in the first half of 2025 had no prior criminal charges.
Read it For Yourself
Official sources
- ICE website: The official ICE website tracks partnerships, including the 287(g) program that allows state and local law enforcement to perform federal immigration functions.
- Governor of Virginia website: Press releases from Governor Glenn Youngkin's office cover official actions, including:
- Executive Order 47 (February 27, 2025): This order directed the Virginia State Police and the Department of Corrections to enter into 287(g) agreements with ICE.
- Announcement of Virginia Homeland Security Task Force (VHSTF) arrests (July 2, 2025): A press release details that the VHSTF surpassed 2,500 arrests since its operations began in February 2025.
Non-profit data and analysis
- VPM.org and WHRO: These Virginia public media outlets cite data from the Deportation Data Project and Syracuse University's Transactional Records Clearing House to report on immigration trends.
- ICE arrests in Virginia soar under Trump crackdowns (Sept. 11, 2025): VPM.org details a significant increase in ICE arrests in Virginia, noting that many of those arrested had no prior criminal convictions or pending charges.
- Immigration court trends (Sept. 9, 2025): An article by WHRO points out a drop in asylum approval rates in Virginia's immigration courts during 2025.
- Immigrant Defense Project: The project's website offers information related to ICE tactics.
- ICEwatch: ICE Raids Tactics Map: Although the project's map ceased updates in April 2022, its archives and mission are relevant to tracking enforcement trends.
News media reports
- Local media (WRIC, WAVY, 13News Now): These outlets have published reports tracking the rise in ICE activity in Virginia.
- 'Unprecedented': ICE arrests more than 4,000 across Virginia (Aug. 22, 2025): WRIC cites data showing a sharp increase in arrests.
- Virginia ranks sixth nationally in ICE arrests (Sept. 21, 2025): WAVY reports on Virginia's high ranking for ICE arrests based on data since January 2025.
- ICE activity in Hampton Roads (Sept. 19, 2025): An analysis by 13News Now reveals a 180% increase in ICE detainers in the region during the first seven months of 2025.
- The New York Times: The newspaper covered the sharp rise in enforcement on a national level, highlighting Virginia's particularly steep increase.
- Virginia Has Become a Hotbed for Immigration Arrests (July 5, 2025): This article notes that arrests in Virginia were up more than 350% compared to 2024, outpacing enforcement in other states.
- Virginia Mercury: This news source covered the controversies around ICE activity, particularly at courthouses.
- FOIA Friday: Reports show not all recent ICE detainees in Virginia had violent charges (Aug. 1, 2025): An article discusses information obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request regarding the charges against some courthouse detainees.
- 'They should be arrested': Youngkin holds firm on support for ICE raids at Virginia courthouses (July 2, 2025): This article covers courthouse arrests and the governor's response to criticism.
Community and advocacy sources
- Ayuda: This non-profit provides legal and social services to immigrants and released a statement criticizing Executive Order 47.
- Ayuda Statement on Virginia Executive Order 47 (March 3, 2025): The statement expressed concern over the order's impact on immigrant communities.
- Social media: Platforms like Instagram have been used to document and organize protests in response to specific ICE incidents, such as one following arrests at a Virginia immigration court in June 2025.
- Facebook (7NewsDC): A post on September 3, 2025, cited data showing a 470% increase in ICE arrests in Virginia from 2024 to 2025.
- Virginia Organizing: This grassroots organization has reported on specific ICE incidents in the Williamsburg area, including the July 29, 2025, detainment near Busch Gardens. Details of protests organized in response to such incidents have also been reported.
- Local student news: University newspapers, such as Flat Hat News, reported on student concerns regarding rumored ICE activity in Williamsburg