Hopewell Sheriff’s Office partners with ICE, sparking fear amongst immigrant community

HOPEWELL, Va. -- Immigrant rights advocates are taking a stand after the Hopewell Sheriff’s Office entered into an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The partnership, known as a 287(g) agreement, allows ICE to use Hopewell’s detention facilities. It also allows local deputies to carry out certain immigration enforcement tasks that federal immigration agents typically do.

Advocates warn the move could create distrust between law enforcement and the community.

"Someone who is a taxpayer, someone who contributes to society, who wants to live out the American dream, feels hindered by such a thing as the 287(g) agreement," said Monica Sarmiento, director of the Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights (VACIR).

ALL COVERAGE: Immigration enforcement in Central Virginia

Hopewell is the first and only jurisdiction in Central Virginia to sign such an agreement, which Sarmiento pointed out is completely voluntary.

"Things like this are saying 'It’s not a welcoming place in Hopewell,' 'It’s not a family environment,'" Sarmiento said. "Once things like this happen, those impacted immigrants, even those who have status -- all of a sudden, [they] don't feel safe enough to call the police when something happens and they're a victim."

Sarmiento warned that, over time, the program could increase costs for taxpayers, based on what has happened to other localities that entered similar agreements.

"In a place where we’re seeing other localities experience this mass exodus, we want to see the Hopewell community grow and flourish," Sarmiento said.

She said this is part of the reason why the coalition launched a petition calling on Hopewell Sheriff Travis Stanley to end the agreement.

Stanley, in a statement to 8News, said:

"The Hopewell Sheriff's Office signed the agreement because of our commitment and to work with ALL local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to keep all citizens and visitors to our great city safe. It is also in conjunction and compliance with Executive Order #47 (2025), signed by Gov. Youngkin on February 27, 2025. We will continue to enforce all the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the City of Hopewell, with integrity, transparency and fairness."