Federal Judge Blocks Virginia Law on Local ICE Cooperation

A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked key provisions of a new Virginia law that restricted cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, handing the Trump administration a significant legal victory. The ruling allows existing partnerships between Virginia localities and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to continue while a broader lawsuit proceeds. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Robert Payne in Richmond issued a preliminary injunction, barring the commonwealth from enforcing the law against federal immigration officers, employees, or agencies. The law, signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger in April and effective July 1, had required existing agreements under Section 287g of federal immigration law to be rewritten by Sept. 1 to include a dozen new conditions. Agreements not modified would have been considered void. Payne found the federal government was likely to succeed on its claim that the law violates the U.S. Constitution's Contract Clause, concluding the new requirements created a substantial impairment of existing agreements.