Loudoun County Sheriff Warns New Virginia Bill Will Increase ICE Raids, End Local Cooperation

Virginia is on the brink of a showdown over immigration enforcement as a bill passed by the General Assembly threatens to end Loudoun County’s long-standing cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Sheriff Mike Chapman is sounding the alarm, warning that the legislation, SB783, will not reduce ICE activity but instead push federal agents into more aggressive street-level raids that could disrupt communities.

Currently, Loudoun County law enforcement holds individuals wanted by ICE for up to two days after release from the county detention center, allowing federal agents to pick them up directly at the jail. Chapman says this system benefits both sides: it keeps ICE enforcement out of public view and helps prevent potentially dangerous individuals from reentering the community unnoticed.

“We’re not doing anything out there to enforce immigration law,” Chapman told WTOP. “All we’re doing is simply turning over people that ICE wants — it helps them accomplish their job, and it also helps us keep people from going into our community that could cause additional crimes.” He stressed that the arrangement has kept ICE enforcement quiet and effective in Loudoun.

But the new bill would prohibit state and local agencies from cooperating with ICE unless the federal agency agrees to new restrictions, including limiting enforcement actions in sensitive locations like courthouses and schools and banning mask-wearing by officers. Governor Abigail Spanberger has until April 13 to sign or veto the bill, which also follows her recent executive orders ending ICE cooperation agreements with Virginia State Police and Department of Corrections officers.

Chapman fears these changes will backfire. Without the ability to hold detainees, ICE officers will be forced to conduct more raids in neighborhoods, knocking on doors and making arrests in public. “You’re going to have ICE out here more, in the streets, conducting raids and doing that sort of thing when it’s really not necessary,” Chapman warned.

This shift could have serious consequences for community safety and trust. Under the current system, ICE retrieves detainees quietly at the jail, avoiding the disruption and fear that public raids can cause. Chapman’s testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Budget in March underscored his concerns that the bill would “put a crimp” in a program that, in his view, works well to keep Loudoun residents safe.

The debate over SB783 reflects a larger national conflict over immigration enforcement and the role of local law enforcement in federal immigration matters. Advocates for the bill argue it will protect immigrant communities from overreach and abuse, while opponents like Chapman claim it will increase disorder and crime by making enforcement less coordinated.

As Governor Spanberger weighs her decision, the eyes of Loudoun County and beyond are on how Virginia will balance public safety, immigration enforcement, and community trust in the months ahead. The outcome will send a clear signal about the state’s approach to ICE and the treatment of immigrant residents.

We will continue to follow this story and provide updates as the governor’s decision approaches.