‘I want you to know I hear you’: Avula says Richmond has no control over ICE actions
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond Mayor Danny Avula says that the city does not control or coordinate actions with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) amid growing concern about said activity across the River City.
Avula acknowledged "tremendous fear in the community" due to concerns over ICE in a press release on Wednesday, Jan. 21, and assured Richmonders that he wants to protect the trust between our communities and local law enforcement
"I understand there is tremendous fear in the community right now," Avula said in a release. "Fear in completing everyday tasks, such as showing up for work, taking your children to school, or buying groceries, and I want you to know I hear you."
In early January, three people were shot by federal agents in two separate incidents just days apart, leading to heightened scrutiny over President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement operations nationwide.
Trump’s immigration measures led to significant controversy two weeks prior after an ICE officer shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Macklin Good in Minneapolis while driving on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Good was an alumna of Old Dominion University (ODU).
Good’s killing immediately sparked unrest across the nation, including in Richmond. This unrest was further amplified after federal agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection shot two people in Portland, Oregon, the following day.
Despite the outrage and upset, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has defended the officer who killed Good and claimed that the shooting victims were attempting to run over law enforcement officers.
Avula called back to the city's mission to "provide trustworthy leadership and high-quality services that meet the needs of our vibrant city” and said he believes strongly that the city should be a place where every resident feels safe accessing services, reporting crimes and engaging with local government "regardless of immigration status."
"Federal immigration enforcement operates under its own authority – the City does not control their actions, nor do we coordinate with them on deportation activities," Avula said in a release.
Avula assured Richmonders that the Richmond Police Department has not entered into a 287(g) agreement with ICE and that it does not participate in the enforcement of federal immigration law.
"Our officers are here to focus on their core mission: community policing, protecting all neighborhoods, and reducing crime," Avula said in a release.
This comes just four days after Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed 10 executive orders into law on her first day in office on Saturday, Jan. 17. Spanberger revoked former Gov. Glenn Youngkin's (R) Executive Order 47, which required and encouraged state and local law enforcement to use resources to enforce federal immigration laws.
"Lastly, I reject any approach that creates fear, confusion or division," Avula said in a release. "Those tactics undermine public safety and erode trust, making our communities less safe, not more secure. Richmond, along with my administration, will continue focusing on a Thriving Richmond, where everyone’s rights are protected and where every resident is treated with dignity, today and always. "
For more on immigration enforcement in Central Virginia, click here.
