Youngkin wants to restrict funding for localities that don’t comply with immigration enforcement

By: Charlotte Rene Woods - December 12, 2024 4:58 pm

Ahead of his annual budget presentation to lawmakers next week, Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Thursday announced a proposal to block state funding from any locality implementing a “sanctuary city” policy and “refusing to comply with federal law to deport” undocumented immigrants who have committed a crime.

The term sanctuary city refers to localities that choose to have limited or no cooperation with the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement.

If adopted in the final state budget, the Department of Criminal Justice Services director will be required to withhold from sanctuary city localities state funding that is usually earmarked for local police departments. The Compensation Board will also be required to withhold state per diem payments to local and regional jails.

The proposal would also require local law enforcement and jail officials to provide notification to ICE 48 hours ahead of the release of immigrants lacking permanent legal status who have committed a crime.

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