VIRGINIA – Police in Virginia can now help with immigration enforcement at the local level after Governor Glen Youngkin signed an executive order Thursday that gives them the power to work alongside Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

The order that came down this afternoon is currently in effect. This means that Virginia State Police and corrections officers are now working with ICE.

Youngkin says this will keep Virginians safe from dangerous criminal illegal immigrants. He even specifically noted a northern Virginia rape case as proof this order is needed. 

Last November, a woman was raped along a trail in Herndon by a suspect who was in the country illegally and had a long history with law enforcement. 

What Does the Order Say? 

What we know:

Youngkin’s order directs localities to cooperate with 287(g), a program designed to allow law enforcement agencies to carry out federal immigration efforts, including deportation. 

This means state police can apprehend “criminal illegal immigrants who pose a risk to public safety” and jails now have to work with ice and report inmates who are incarcerated.

Read the Order

What Does This Mean?

Dig deeper:

Immigration attorneys in Virginia argue this executive order opens the door to racial profiling and creates distrust between the immigrant community and police.

“The 287(g) is not the best practice and it is a dangerous practice. It’s a dangerous practice for many immigrants who are going to continue being victims of crimes and now they are going to be afraid to report,” attorney Nash Fayad said. 

“The bottom line is, this is a fear-based tactic and fear doesn’t fight crime. Trust does. This law destroys trusts and puts everyone at risk,” attorney Alexander Miller said. 

Economic Impact:

Both attorneys who spoke with FOX 5 also pointed to the economic impact this order could have on the Commonwealth.

“It was tried in Virginia before in Prince William County. It cost the taxpayer an estimated $23 million over five years,” said Miller. “That money could be spent on other matters that would help safety and make the community safer. These are not zero sum articles, these things are going to cost money and the taxpayer is going to bear that burden ultimately, no matter what the federal government says.”

“We’ve tried this practice before, lots of businesses left Virginia. Lots of immigrants left Virginia and went either up North or further South,” Fayad added. “We lost a lot of businesses here.”

Virginia is joining a growing number of states, including Georgia, who are working with ICE to enforce immigration laws.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va., Feb. 26, 2025 – The Basketball Tournament (TBT), the 64-team, $1 million winner-take-all event, announced today that Charleston, West Virginia will serve as one of the regional locations for the 2025 event.

Best Virginia, the West Virginia University alumni team, will return as the featured team in the eight-team West Virginia Regional.

The 2025 West Virginia Regional will be played at the Charleston Coliseum July 18-23.

This summer will be the third time Charleston has hosted a TBT regional, previously hosting in 2021 and 2022.

Best Virginia, now entering their sixth summer in TBT, will be led by general manager John Flowers.

“We’re excited that TBT is returning to West Virginia and to the great city of Charleston,” said

Best Virginia general manager John Flowers. “I know our fans in Charleston will show up and show out like they always have since my playing days at WVU. Last time Best Virginia played in Charleston, our fans gave our team the energy to beat the Elmore brothers and Herd That. We’re looking forward to seeing a lot of gold and blue at the Charleston Coliseum this July. Not green!”

“Charleston has been an amazing host for TBT,” said TBT founder and CEO Jon Mugar. “The West

Virginia fan base has always been extraordinary and now it has the opportunity to host games all the way through the championship. We can’t wait to return this summer.”

“We are thrilled to welcome The Basketball Tournament (TBT), and the excitement and energy it brings, back to our Capital City,” said Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin. “We look forward to joining fans from across the region to watch Best Virginia compete in the 2025 West Virginia Regional—creating lasting memories and being part of the excitement that makes this event so incredible!”

Best Virginia will make additional roster announcements in the spring via their social media page, @finalfourcast.

The winner of the West Virginia Regional will advance to TBTs quarterfinals on July 28.

The semifinals will be held on July 31, and TBT’s $1 Million championship game will be played on Sun. Aug. 3.

For the first time, TBT will give each host team the opportunity to have home court advantage for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the $1 million championship game. Should two regional hosts face off, the tie breaker will be determined by which host sells 4,000 tickets the fastest.

Tickets for the 2025 West Virginia Regional will go on sale on May 6.

Fans can sign up for ticket and team notifications at tbthoops.com/tickets/notifications.

For more information on this year’s TBT, visit tbthoops.com.