The Democrat running for Governor of Virginia is vowing to scrap the state's immigration order mandating state and local cooperation with federal immigration authorities in rounding up dangerous illegal alien criminals.
Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order in February requiring Virginia law enforcement to assist federal immigration crackdowns being implemented by Donald Trump.
But perhaps not surprisingly Democrat nominee Abigail Spanberger says one of her first acts if elected would be to undo Youngkin's directive.
Youngkin said at the time the measure was meant to keep “dangerous criminal illegal immigrants” off Virginia’s streets. Spanberger countered that Youngkin’s approach illustrates how immigration enforcement can pull local agencies away from their core responsibilities while pushing state agencies into federal civil enforcement.
Winsome Earle-Sears is Lieutenant Governor and Spanberger's Republican challenger for Governor.
Earle-Sears has embraced the order and tied it to her own story as a legal immigrant from Jamaica.
During an interview on the Fox News Channel she said it is pretty clear that Spanberger doesn't want to protect Virginians.
"How can my opponent be against getting criminals off the street? But of course what we know is she has taken thousands of dollars for a PAC (Political Action Committee) that is named Defund the Police PAC. So she's already signaling she doesn't care about us, and I guess she's going to be safe where she lives. But what about the rest of Virginians? So that's why I'm saying elect me Virginia, and I will continue to keep you safe."
The Republican, who has been gaining in the polls, says parental rights remain a huge issue in the Commonwealth of Virginia. "We don't co-parent with the government and that is what my opponent is for, which is surprising to me because she's the mother of three girls. Why would she want, for example, nude men in locker rooms with our girls. It's surprising to me."
