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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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A leading Republican Governor has proposed banning sanctuary cities as GOP lawmakers work to enact President-elect Donald Trump's aggressive immigration agenda.
Glenn Youngkin, Governor of Virginia, unveiled a budget proposal that would mandate that local law enforcement fully comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers and notify officials 48 hours before releasing an undocumented immigrant who has committed a crime.
The "No Sanctuary Cities" initiative would legally mandate full compliance with ICE and proposes withholding funding from counties that purport to be "sanctuary" cities or enact practices impeding cooperation with ICE.
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The move is a fit with President-elect Trump's vows to implement the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, terminate the CBP One app, end the catch-and-release policy, and reinstate the "Remain in Mexico" program as part of his tough stance on immigration. He has also promised to target individuals admitted to the U.S. under programs designed to protect migrants from specific countries.
"Criminals who are in the United States illegally will be turned over to ICE. We must stop the cycle of violence and crime that is being enabled by some local governments," Youngkin said in a statement.
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Youngkin also threatened to cut state funding if counties obstruct ICE efforts or adopt "sanctuary city" policies could face state funding cuts.
"Virginia is not a sanctuary state, and we must be clear that we will not allow localities to become 'sanctuary cities.' If local governments turn their backs on their citizens in order to pander to pro-illegal immigrant groups, we will cut off their funding."
Newsweek was directed to a press release when asking Youngkin for comment.
In response to Youngkin's move, Virginia Democrats said they will deliver "results, not distractions."
"Senate Democrats are focused on the issues that matter most to Virginia families—food on the table, good-paying jobs, access to health care and education, and keeping a roof over their heads. We're here to deliver results, not distractions," Virginia Democrats said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears said: "My father and I had to file documents and wait to be granted permission to enter the United States. Under Governor Youngkin's leadership, Virginia stands firm: we are not a sanctuary state.
"Sanctuary cities are not just a failure of policy, but a policy of failure," said Republican Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares.
"Instead of protecting the people they claim to serve, political activists are putting criminals over victims and actively sowing confusion between the law enforcement, federal authorities, and those prosecutors who are trying to do their job.
"Public safety relies on the faithful application of federal and state laws. Sanctuary city policies serve neither the interests of Virginians nor their safety; they undermine public trust and do not merit state support. How many more Virginians and their families have to be hurt or possibly killed before someone is held accountable?"
The move in Virginia comes against a backdrop of heightened political tensions over immigration and asylum as the U.S. barrels toward Inauguration Day.
On the other side of the aisle, lawmakers are concerned over the impact of Trump's immigration policies.
Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto previously told Newsweek that she had spoken to the White House about her proposals for President Joe Biden to extend protections to citizens who are in the country through TPS.
"There are horrific conditions in these countries that satisfy the provisions of TPS and this is an opportunity now for this administration to extend that status or provide that status based on those horrific conditions in those countries, because I know the next administration, their immigration policy is chaotic and President Trump has basically said he's going to engage in master deportation and nobody's going to be safe," Masto said.
Manuel Bonder, a spokesperson for Josh Shapiro, told Newsweek on December 5 that his administration would "never back down from defending Pennsylvanians' fundamental freedoms."
"The Shapiro Administration is preparing for all scenarios and taking steps to safeguard our Commonwealth from potential federal actions that could be harmful to Pennsylvania families and communities," Bonder said.
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