Virginia Governor Signs Order to Review Law Enforcement Policies

Directive aims to rebuild trust between police and communities

Feb. 4, 2026 at 1:31pm

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Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger issued an executive order directing law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth to review their policies, training, and practices in order to better serve the state. The governor, a former federal law enforcement officer, said the order aims to rebuild trust between police and the communities they serve, which has been eroded by chaotic federal law enforcement actions across the country.

Why it matters

The executive order and directive seek to address concerns that when state and local law enforcement are pulled away from investigating crimes and upholding Virginia laws to do the job of federal agents, it weakens their ability to deepen trust within their communities. This contributes to a culture of fear and distrust that makes it harder for officers to do their jobs effectively.

The details

Through the executive directive, Gov. Spanberger directed all state law enforcement agencies, including the Virginia State Police, Virginia Department of Corrections, Virginia Conservation Police, and Virginia Marine Police, to drop all existing 287(g) agreements with U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE). The governor said these agreements placed Commonwealth law enforcement officers under federal control and supervision to conduct civil immigration enforcement.

  • On February 4, 2026, Governor Abigail Spanberger issued the executive order and directive.

The players

Governor Abigail Spanberger

The governor of Virginia, who is a former federal law enforcement officer and the daughter of a career law enforcement officer.

Virginia State Police

A state law enforcement agency that was directed to review its policies and practices under the governor's executive order.

U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that had 287(g) agreements with Virginia law enforcement agencies, which the governor directed to be dropped.

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What they’re saying

“As a former federal law enforcement officer and the daughter of a career law enforcement officer, I know that effective policing is built on trust. Like so many of Virginia's law enforcement officers, I have serious concerns that chaotic federal law enforcement actions across the country are eroding years of trust built by our officers within the communities they serve.”

— Governor Abigail Spanberger

“When state and local law enforcement are pulled away from investigating crimes and upholding our Virginia laws to do the job of federal agents, it weakens their ability to deepen trust within their communities. This contributes to a culture of fear and distrust that makes it harder for officers to do their jobs.”

— Governor Abigail Spanberger

What’s next

The governor's office stated that the review of law enforcement policies and practices will be ongoing, with the goal of identifying areas for improvement and strengthening the relationship between police and the communities they serve.

The takeaway

This executive order and directive from Governor Spanberger demonstrate a commitment to rebuilding trust between law enforcement and Virginia's communities, which has been eroded by the actions of federal agencies. By directing state agencies to review their policies and end agreements that place them under federal control, the governor is taking steps to empower local law enforcement to focus on their core mission of upholding state laws and serving their communities.