Virginia National Guard to assist ICE
Members of the Virginia National Guard are expected to be deployed across the state, including Northern Virginia, in September to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin called up the National Guard earlier this month to mobilize approximately 60 soldiers and airmen to provide administrative and logistics support to ICE.
Immigrant rights groups blasted the move by Youngkin for furthering the Trump administration’s attack on immigrants.
According to a press release from the Virginia National Guard, the soldiers will not conduct law enforcement functions or make arrests. Their tasks could include “answering phones, data entry, appointment scheduling, biometric collection, basic vehicle maintenance, and tracking fleet expenses and utilization.”
The National Guard personnel “will report directly to ICE leadership at their assigned duty locations but remain under the control and direction of the Virginia Governor and Adjutant General of Virginia,” the release states.
“Deploying the Virginia National Guard to assist ICE is a dangerous misuse of state resources and a direct attack on immigrant communities,” said Eduardo Zelaya, Virginia Organizing Director of CASA, an immigrant rights group.
Related story: ICE arrests people at the Annandale Immigration Court
“Instead of protecting Virginians, this decision fuels fear, tears families apart, and erodes the trust between residents and those sworn to serve them,” Zelaya said.
“Gov. Youngkin claimed that by ordering Virginia’s National Guard to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he somehow isn’t ordering it to ‘do the ICE job’ – but that’s a fantasy,” said ACLU of Virginia Executive Director Mary Bauer.
“It’s shameful that Gov. Youngkin is willing to waste Virginians’ tax dollars to terrorize local communities for political gain, when the oath he swore was to represent the interests of Virginians – all Virginians, including immigrants,” Bauer said.
Ayuda, an organization that provides legal assistance and social services to immigrants, also condemned the use of the National Guard to support ICE.
“Many of our clients are survivors of violence, trafficking, and persecution,” said Ayuda’s Executive Director, Paula Fitzgerald. “All are working hard to build safe and secure lives in our communities. We believe that Virginia’s resources are best used to support solutions that strengthen families, foster community trust, and promote long-term safety and stability – not to criminalize immigrant families working toward a better future.”
Youngkin is looking for life after the governorship and I’m guessing he thinks bending the knee to this administration will guarantee the recognition he thinks he needs. We need safe borders, we all get that. But we also need appropriate legislation so we don’t have this gestapo style reaction of rounding up otherwise hard working folks that are adding value to our community and our economy.
I agree.
The biggest threat will be from all the NoVa Karens and their signs.
Love it!!!
If there was any doubt that Youngkin is a Trump stooge, this should clear it up. So the National Guard will be answering phones, doing data entry and analyzing budgets…. beyond laughable.
Do you think everyone at ICE is out rounding up people? The Federal/State governments are extremely admin heavy. Nothing new.
I think you missed the point. The tasks they’re doing aren’t new, but having our National Guard do them so our toady of a governor can suck up to the Orange One is new. And ridiculous.
There is no emergency requiring the Virginia National Guard be used period. Trumpkin is kissing the ring for Trump just like he did to get elected. Let’s hope Virginians won’t make the same mistake by voting for another Trump puppet this November. Let’s move our state forward in a new direction and protect our democracy.
Well and correctly said. Can’t we get some independently thinking PRO Virginian’s to represent us and carry forward not backwards. We need modern industry not dusty old coal. We need education that is able to think without the risk of facing Fahrenheit 451.
This. And bonus points for Bradbury F451 reference.
Pathetic. Youngkin is eager to earn a place at Trump’s feet.
Youngkin is a fucking snake in the grass. He clearly doesn’t understand the meaning Sic Semper Tyrannis. NoVA doesn’t take kindly to fascism.
Why do people around here love crime and illegals so much anyway? Weird.
Arguing against an inappropriate use of the National Guard doesn’t mean someone is against crime or illegal immigration. C’mon Dan, watch something other than Fox News and you might see what is really behind the use of power to make this State and our country more white. There was a reasonable bill before Congress that addressed immigration policies…killed at Trump’s request. We need immigration reform and this isn’t it. This is political theater.
I don’t have all the answers, but one thing I noticed while driving around Northern Virginia is that almost all the homes that have “Love Trump Hate” signs are in very safe affluent neighborhoods that are not near lower income apartment complexes.