The Virginia Homeland Security Task Force has announced the arrest of over 5,600 illegal immigrants since February 2025. These arrests were made through joint operations involving state police, local sheriffs, and federal authorities under Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Executive Order 47.
According to Restoration News, the task force was established under Executive Order 47, which mandates collaboration between state and local law enforcement with federal immigration agencies to remove criminal illegal aliens from Virginia communities. The initiative has led to more than 5,600 arrests, including those of violent offenders and gang members affiliated with groups such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. This effort is part of Governor Youngkin’s public-safety agenda aimed at strengthening immigration enforcement partnerships, despite opposition from Democratic lawmakers.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that Executive Order 47 was issued on February 2, 2025. It directs the Virginia Department of State Police and sheriffs’ offices to work directly with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in apprehending non-citizens charged with violent crimes. Data from the administration indicate that approximately one-quarter of those arrested had prior criminal records. State officials have noted that these actions are modeled on programs used in Texas and Florida to enhance state-level responses to federal immigration challenges.
The Virginian-Pilot highlights ICE data showing participation from more than 29 Virginia jurisdictions in joint enforcement operations during 2025. These efforts resulted in over 1,000 immigration detainers issued in Hampton Roads alone. Federal-state cooperation has reportedly increased since early 2024 when Virginia renewed several agreements allowing local jails to identify and transfer undocumented offenders to ICE custody. ICE officials have credited the task force for accelerating referrals of high-risk non-citizens for removal due to its coordination role across local agencies.
According to the official Commonwealth of Virginia website, the task force operates under the Office of the Governor and the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. Its mission is to enhance coordination among state, local, and federal agencies to combat transnational crime, enforce immigration laws, and protect Virginians from threats. The task force supports data sharing, field operations, and interagency training for consistent homeland-security and public-safety enforcement statewide.
