Sen. Warner Defends Gov. Spanberger’s Decision on ICE Cooperation
Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) recently supported Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger’s (D) move to cease collaboration with ICE. In an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Special Report,” Warner emphasized that “there has to be a collaborative effort.” He highlighted concerns about ICE’s methods, saying, “I’ve seen people outside courthouses in Virginia when ICE agents are around. Someone comes in seeking legal status and ends up getting arrested because their report is valid. Is that really the system we want right now?”
During the broadcast, host Brett Baier noted that Spanberger had ended partnerships between state law enforcement and ICE for detaining undocumented immigrants with criminal records. He remarked on a protest at a church in St. Paul, prompting Warner to address it directly.
Warner remarked, “I think everyone certainly has the right to protest according to the First Amendment, but disrupting religious services? That’s not appropriate. From what I understand, there are around 3,500 ICE agents in Minneapolis, which is far more than the local police force of about 800. In Virginia, the situation is a bit different — though I’m not sure about Minnesota’s arrest statistics. In Virginia, if ICE can’t meet its weekly arrest quotas, around 75% of those detained may have entered the U.S. illegally, and most of these individuals have no prior criminal record.”
Baier then interjected, suggesting this implied a reluctance to collaborate with ICE to apprehend undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds.
Warner reiterated, “We need to examine the facts carefully. In Virginia, 75% of those arrested by ICE don’t have a criminal history here.”
Baier pressed further, asking about the possibility of working with ICE specifically for individuals with criminal backgrounds.
Warner responded, “Let’s focus on those with criminal records. There’s a lot going wrong with ICE’s current approach — yes, the Biden administration hasn’t handled the border well, I’ll admit that. But we see masked ICE agents detaining mothers while they drop off their children or individuals heading to work. Sometimes kids are left in cars while their parents are picked up, and that doesn’t sit right with me. Cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE is almost nonexistent, particularly in Minnesota.”
Baier then noted that Spanberger had campaigned as a moderate but didn’t act that way as governor.
Warner replied, “Local law enforcement is usually effective at targeting actual criminals. I’ve observed this firsthand in Virginia. I’ve seen people show up to court to seek legal status only to get arrested because of their reports, which raises questions about our current system.”
