Justice Department Sues Virginia Over 2 ICE Laws, Seeking to Block July 1 Penalties
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 11
Justice Department Sues Virginia Over 2 ICE Laws, Seeking to Block July 1 Penalties
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 11
Summary
The DOJ sued Virginia on Thursday to stop two new state laws before their July 1 start date, arguing they would expose federal agents to criminal penalties and disrupt local ICE cooperation agreements.
One law would bar on-duty officers, including federal agents, from wearing masks and require identifying information; violations could bring a Class 1 misdemeanor, up to 12 months in jail, a $2,500 fine, or both.
The department says the measures violate the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause by letting Virginia dictate how federal officers conduct operations and by conditioning local-federal immigration enforcement partnerships.
The suit follows Governor Abigail Spanberger’s broader rollback of Virginia cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, including a February order rescinding a Youngkin-era directive and new limits on ICE activity on state property.
DOJ framed the case as part of a wider fight over immigration enforcement, citing recent protests and alleged assaults outside New Jersey’s Delaney Hall detention center as evidence that agent anonymity and safety are at risk.