Based on official statistics, the Virginia Homeland Security Task Force (VHSTF) has arrested thousands of illegal immigrants within months of its formation.
VHSTF is a federal-state partnership established by the U.S. Department of Justice, and has only according to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Office, operations officially began on February 25.
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On May 21, Youngkin and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi celebrated the “tremendous success,” of the task force announcing “the arrest of the 1,000th violent criminal.”
“These are gang members—Tren de Aragua, MS-13, human traffickers, drug traffickers—who have been infiltrating our communities and unleashing violent crime,” Youngkin stated at the announcement.
“The federal resources, the state resources are going to work in order to take these violent criminals off the street, and we need your help. You should be part of this solution as opposed to standing in the way because be we are going to continue to make sure that Virginians are safe.”
Youngkin sending a message to Arlington County, which he said declared itself a sanctuary city.
Bondi warned the alleged criminals, “we’re coming for you,” and commended Youngkin.
“And what we’re telling you now: Crime has consequences. We are so grateful to you, Governor, for everything that you’ve done. We are ready to partner with other states because you set the gold standard in how to work together with federal, state, and local law enforcement,” she said.
Providing an update this week, Youngkin announced that, as of July 1, VHSTF had surpassed 2,500 arrests of “violent” criminals.
“The Virginia Homeland Security Task Force has been extremely successful, and Virginia is safer today because of it,” he said.
According to the Governor, joint federal-state operations will continue, as partner agencies carry out long-term investigations into narcotics, violent gangs, and transnational organized crime under their respective authorities.
The Task Force is led by U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Erik S. Siebert, and includes personnel from the following agencies:
- U.S. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO)
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (DSS)
- Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
- U.S. Marshals Service (USMS)
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE)
- U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and U.S. Customs Air Marine
- High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force
- Virginia State Police
- Virginia Department of Corrections
On February 27, Governor Youngkin signed Executive Order 47, directing the Virginia State Police and the Virginia Department of Corrections to enter 287(g) memoranda with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), authorizing these agencies to directly enforce federal immigration law.
