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Gov. Abigail Spanberger within just 24 hours vetoed two legislative packages aimed at limiting federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Virginia while simultaneously signing other measures targeting masked federal agents and issuing a sweeping executive order governing how ICE officers may operate on state property.
The mixed actions frustrated and baffled some Democratic lawmakers who argue Spanberger is sending conflicting signals on immigration enforcement and other legislative priorities during a period of growing fear surrounding ICE operations across Virginia.
The moves highlighted the careful line Spanberger has tried to maintain during her first six months in office. She has聽聽criticized federal immigration enforcement tactics while resisting proposals she argues could create legal conflicts, public safety concerns or unintended consequences.
The immigration decisions came alongside a wider set of vetoes touching on legal cannabis retail, prescription drug regulation, election administration, higher education governance and criminal justice policy 鈥� angering some Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups that had expected more support from a Democratic governor.
Mixed immigration signals
Among the most controversial vetoes were聽听补苍诲听, companion measures聽focused on courthouse security procedures, attorney access and electronic device policies in Virginia courthouses.
While the legislation itself focused on courthouse operations and attorney access, some supporters and immigrant-rights advocates previously argued the measures could also help reduce fears surrounding immigration enforcement activity at courthouses.
But Spanberger rejected the measures, saying she was unconvinced they would improve safety.
鈥淲ithout additional study or a clear public safety benefit, I do not support mandating new statewide security screening exemptions for attorneys at courthouses,鈥� the governor 鈥� a former law enforcement official herself 鈥� wrote in her veto statement.
鈥淎ny such statewide changes to security protocols should be based on clear evidence that such changes would have no impact on 鈥� or ideally, improve 鈥� public safety.鈥�
The decision drew immediate criticism from Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, who is an attorney, and the legislation鈥檚 sponsors, Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim, D-Fairfax, and Del. Karen Keys-Gamarra, D-Fairfax.
In a joint statement, the lawmakers said they were 鈥渄eeply disappointed鈥� by the veto and argued the governor misunderstood both the legislation and existing courthouse practices.
鈥淭he governor鈥檚 stated concern, that allowing attorneys to bypass security screening poses a public safety risk, misreads both the bills and the people they cover,鈥� they said, arguing attorneys are licensed professionals subject to Virginia State Bar discipline and criminal penalties for the misuse of credentials.
The lawmakers also noted that law enforcement officers already routinely bypass courthouse screening procedures.
鈥淭he very population the current system trusts to skip screening has a documented misconduct rate higher than the population the governor鈥檚 veto deems too risky to extend the same courtesy,鈥� they said.
They also argued that the veto preserves what they described as a 鈥渟cattershot patchwork of local rules鈥� that creates confusion and delays for attorneys and clients statewide.
On Wednesday, Spanberger still took several steps aimed at addressing concerns surrounding federal immigration enforcement in Virginia.
She signed聽听补苍诲听, which increase transparency and accountability requirements for law enforcement officers operating in the commonwealth. The legislation comes amid national scrutiny over federal immigration agents conducting operations while masked or without visible identification.
鈥淟aw enforcement officers wearing masks on American streets undercut basic expectations of accountability, sow fear and confusion, and erode the public trust,鈥� Spanberger said in a statement.
The governor said Virginians had witnessed 鈥渢he horrors of what can occur when masked federal immigration enforcement agents engage in fear-based policing and enforcement theater on American streets.鈥�
Executive order addresses ICE activity
Also on Wednesday, Spanberger issued聽, directing state agencies and institutions to establish guidance for employees interacting with federal immigration officers at sensitive locations including schools, hospitals, courthouses, polling places and commonwealth attorneys鈥� offices.
The order bars state property from being used as a staging area, processing site or operational base for federal civil immigration enforcement activity. It also requires state agencies to verify federal officers seeking access to state property possess valid warrants or other legal authorization.
The order additionally directs state agencies to create online resources explaining residents鈥� legal rights and allowing reports of alleged misconduct by federal agents.
鈥淜ids in elementary school are afraid to get on the bus, neighbors fear being targeted based on their appearance at the grocery store, and workers are not showing up at their jobs,鈥� Spanberger said. 鈥淧ublic trust in state and local law enforcement is being undermined by the aggressive tactics used by federal immigration officials.鈥�
The executive order follows Spanberger鈥檚 veto of聽听补苍诲听, legislation supporters said was intended to further limit immigration enforcement activities in sensitive areas.
鈥淲e strongly disagree with Gov. Spanberger鈥檚 veto of SB 351. This is a disappointing choice that undermines public safety and accountability in Virginia,鈥� said Salim, the sponsor of the Senate measure.
鈥淭his bill is a common-sense measure that would have protected Virginians and strengthened trust in our institutions. As an immigrant who carries his passport card as many immigrants do, I know the fear of being separated from our families due to the Trump administration鈥檚 lawlessness.鈥�
The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia also criticized Spanberger鈥檚 decision on the legislation, arguing the governor undermined protections lawmakers intended to create for immigrants and courthouse visitors.
鈥淟awmakers recognized that when ICE agents can make warrantless arrests inside Virginia courthouses, the rule of law itself is under attack 鈥� so they took decisive action to protect it,鈥� ACLU of Virginia Policy Director Chris Kaiser said in a statement.
鈥淚t is shocking that Gov. Spanberger would choose to veto the protections these bills would have provided and replace them with an executive order that does nothing to keep Virginians safe.鈥�
Spanberger acknowledged the concerns behind the legislation but said the bills would create unworkable legal conflicts for local officials and security personnel.
鈥淎s a former law enforcement officer, I share many Virginians鈥� concerns regarding the dangerous and unchecked federal immigration enforcement actions we have seen across the country,鈥� she wrote.
But the governor said the bills would place security staff and law enforcement 鈥渋n the untenable position of choosing between violating state law or federal law.鈥�
She also warned the legislation would create a false sense of legal protection for immigrant families.
The actions build on earlier immigration-related measures聽聽last month, including legislation limiting cooperation agreements between local jails and ICE.
Broader vetoes frustrate Democrats
Immigration bills were only part of a much larger wave of vetoes that angered Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups this week.
On Tuesday, Spanberger聽聽that would have launched Virginia鈥檚 adult-use cannabis retail market, delaying legal marijuana sales in the commonwealth for at least another year. She also聽聽establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board intended to lower certain medication costs statewide.
The governor also vetoed聽, dealing with voter roll maintenance, saying she supported the bill鈥檚 intent but worried it could create unintended burdens for grieving family members of deceased voters.
She rejected聽, which would have restructured聽聽program, arguing the changes could strip nearly 800 businesses of eligibility and reduce SWaM spending by at least $340 million.
Spanberger also vetoed聽听补苍诲听, saying the proposals would create inconsistent legal standards involving defendants with mental illness or developmental disabilities.
Other vetoes include聽, dealing with private funding and gifts for election administration;听听补苍诲听, which would have added menopause and perimenopause protections to the聽;听, involving mandatory recordings of child welfare interviews; and聽听补苍诲听, which proposed changes to higher education governance that Spanberger said risked further politicizing Virginia universities.
鈥淚 support the intent of many of the bills I am vetoing,鈥� Spanberger said in a statement summarizing her actions, 鈥渉owever, it is my responsibility as governor to make sure all new laws can be successfully implemented and protect against unintended consequences that harm Virginians.鈥�
At the same time, Spanberger highlighted major legislation that she did sign this year, including measures聽,听聽and addressing聽, healthcare and聽听补蹿蹿辞谤诲补产颈濒颈迟测.
鈥淲ith the chaos out of Washington continuing to raise prices and create uncertainty for families and businesses alike, we have shown Virginians that we can deliver to make our communities safer, stronger, and more affordable for all,鈥� the governor said.
