Virginia city bucks Spanberger's ICE ban, vows to keep working with feds

The City of Lynchburg in Virginia voted on Tuesday that it will reaffirm its cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after Democrat Governor Abigail Spanberger moved to make Virginia a sanctuary state.

After being elected to office, Spanberger rescinded an executive order from former Governor Glenn Youngkin that directed state agencies to work with federal immigration enforcement. Spanberger also ended Virginia State Police's cooperation in the 287(g) program, which allows officers to carry out immigration enforcement with ICE agents. A resolution just passed in Lynchburg bucks Spanberger's efforts.

The resolution stated, "Irrespective of the execution of Executive Order No. 10 by Governor Abigail Spanberger on January 17, 2026, the City of Lynchburg, Virginia will continue to partner and cooperate with Virginia and/or Federal law-enforcement agencies and other authorities in a manner (i) that is consistent with existing City practice(s) and ii) that complies with Virginia law."

“Lynchburg will continue to operate as normal, regardless of what Richmond says,” Councilman Chris Faraldi, who introduced the resolution, said. The vote in the city, located in central Virginia, passed the resolution 6 to 0.

Police Chief Kennith R Edwards Jr said that the police department will continue to cooperate with ICE as necessary. When someone is flagged as an illegal immigrant who is arrested at the Lynchburg Adult Detention Center, ICE is contacted so that they can be detained by federal authorities.

Vice Mayor Curtis Diemer said that cooperation with ICE improves public safety, per Center Square. “Public safety is strengthened by cooperation, clarity and common sense,” Diemer said.