Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones is finding himself at the center of two significant disputes concerning the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies. These challenges involve a civil rights inquiry into a rural sheriff’s traffic stop practices and a legal battle over federal access to commercial driver information. Critics argue these actions reflect a broader reluctance by Virginia’s Democratic leadership to cooperate with the federal government.
Investigation into Greene County Sheriff’s Practices
The Office of Civil Rights within Jones’s department has initiated an investigation into allegations concerning the Greene County Sheriff’s Office. Specifically, the probe focuses on the office’s traffic stop procedures and its collaboration with federal immigration authorities. This action comes after the office notified Sheriff Steve Smith of the inquiry, requesting detailed records related to immigration enforcement policies, training, and interagency agreements.
Virginia House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore has been a vocal critic, asserting that these disputes exemplify a pattern of non-cooperation with the Trump administration by Virginia’s Democratic leaders. “That’s just this whole administration’s modus operandi, to put it bluntly, they are so mad at Trump, they want to make sure they don’t want to cooperate with Trump in any area whatsoever, and they want make it unsafe for Virginians,” Kilgore stated in an interview. He further commented on the Greene County sheriff’s actions, saying, “I applaud the Greene County sheriff for working with ICE to make that we don’t have illegals on our roads, illegals out here committing crimes and things of that nature, unlike our attorney general, who’s the chief law enforcement officer of our state out here picking fights with sheriffs over illegal immigrants.”
Sheriff Smith’s deputies have been involved in several operations with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), particularly in a rural county situated along key transportation corridors. A notable operation in June near the intersection of U.S. 29 and U.S. 33 led to 49 individuals being detained by ICE. Another operation in May, conducted in nearby Ruckersville, resulted in the arrest of 26 people, including a Honduran national identified by the Department of Homeland Security as an MS-13 gang member.
Smith has previously defended his office’s operations, stating that deputies adhere to a standard of reasonable suspicion for initiating traffic stops, consistent with all vehicle stops. He noted that common reasons for stops include speeding, failure to maintain a lane, and running red lights. However, local activists have raised concerns about potential profiling, while Smith maintains that the stops are based on observed traffic violations.
Former Delegate Nick Freitas also weighed in, remarking, “Oh, look, the Virginia AG is going after a cop for doing actual cop things.”
Shift in Virginia’s Immigration Enforcement Policy
These developments occur against a backdrop of shifting immigration enforcement policies in Virginia under Attorney General Jones. Upon taking office, Jones, who had endorsed the Attorney General, rescinded a previous executive order that encouraged cooperation with ICE. Subsequently, a law was enacted on April 22, sponsored by Delegate Alfonso Lopez, which restricts state and local entities from participating in federal civil immigration enforcement activities.
An ICE spokesperson highlighted the importance of law enforcement partnerships, stating, “Partnerships with law enforcement are critical to having the resources we need to arrest illegal aliens across the country. When politicians bar local law enforcement from working with DHS, our law enforcement officers have to have a more visible presence so that we can find and apprehend the criminals let out of jails and back into communities.” The spokesperson confirmed that the 49 individuals detained in the Ruckersville operation were transported to ICE facilities for processing and would receive due process, remaining in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
Legal Challenge Over Commercial Driver Records
In parallel with the investigation into Sheriff Smith, Attorney General Jones has joined a lawsuit challenging a federal demand for bulk transfer of commercial driver records. This demand, affecting approximately 17 million drivers, stems from a Department of Transportation initiative aimed at addressing drivers who may not meet English-language proficiency requirements or undocumented immigrants accused of involvement in serious accidents.
Jones celebrated a temporary injunction secured from U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga, a George W. Bush appointee, which blocked the bulk transfer of these records. He described the ruling as “an important win for protecting the privacy of millions of commercial drivers.”
Critics, like House Minority Leader Kilgore, view this legal action as another instance of Virginia opposing federal efforts. “This is just another way that they try to stick their thumb in the administration’s eye,” Kilgore commented. “Once again, we’re siding with illegals or foreigners who are here driving 18-wheelers… who could harm our citizens because they’re not qualified. I don’t understand why the Democrats are so, so against these activities [that] make sure that our highways are safe.”
Past Controversies and Criticisms
Former Delegate Kim Taylor has drawn a parallel between Jones’s current actions and past controversies, referencing text messages Jones allegedly sent to another former lawmaker that graphically described the murder of a former Virginia House Speaker. Taylor characterized Jones’s current stance as hypocritical, stating, “For an attorney general who once talked about putting ‘two bullets’ in a political opponent to now lecture law enforcement is hypocrisy at its worst.”
State Senator Creigh Deeds, whose district neighbors Greene County, expressed disappointment. “Certainly we all want people who come into this country to come in legally, but the people that are here are for the most part here to fill a need and that’s work,” he remarked.
Sheriff Smith, citing his retention of counsel, declined to comment directly to news outlets but previously indicated to local publications that he intends to continue cooperating with ICE operations, even after discussions regarding the new state law restricting such cooperation.
