Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones has come under scrutiny due to two controversies related to Trump’s immigration enforcement policy. These disputes include a civil rights investigation into a sheriff’s traffic stop practices and a legal challenge regarding access to commercial driver records.
Virginia House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore has expressed concern that these issues illustrate a lack of cooperation with Trump from Virginia’s Democratic leadership. He criticized Jones for initiating an investigation into Greene County Sheriff Steve Smith, suggesting that the administration aimed to resist Trump’s policies and compromise public safety in Virginia.
Jones’ Office of Civil Rights announced its investigation into Greene County Sheriff’s Office, focusing on traffic stop practices and cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Kilgore supported the sheriff’s collaboration with ICE to address the presence of undocumented immigrants involved in criminal activities.
This investigation represents a larger change in Virginia’s immigration enforcement approach under Governor Abigail Spanberger. Spanberger, who endorsed Jones, reversed the previous governor’s order that encouraged cooperation with ICE. She also signed a law limiting state and local participation in federal civil immigration enforcement.
The Office of Civil Rights has asked Sheriff Smith for records on immigration enforcement policies, training materials, and interagency agreements. Despite the investigation, Smith’s deputies have been actively involved in operations with ICE, targeting immigrant populations in traffic stops.
“I applaud the Greene County sheriff for working with ICE to make sure we don’t have illegals on our roads,” Kilgore stated.
Local activists have accused deputies of profiling, while the sheriff argues that stops are primarily due to speeding and other traffic violations.
The criticism against Jones includes references to past controversies involving politically charged threats, raising questions about his motivations.
Jones is also involved in a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s request for commercial driver records, arguing it breaches driver privacy. A judge temporarily blocked the transfer of these records.
ICE spokesperson emphasized the importance of collaboration with local law enforcement to efficiently apprehend undocumented immigrants. Kilgore maintained that resisting federal immigration enforcement could jeopardize public safety on highways.