Virginia’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger just confirmed what many conservatives have long warned: when forced to choose between protecting illegal immigrants and protecting American citizens, she will side with the illegals every time.
In a shocking statement, Spanberger doubled down on her support for sanctuary cities and their refusal to comply with ICE detainers. These detainers are straightforward requests from federal immigration officials asking local law enforcement to hold individuals who are already under arrest—often for violent crimes—until ICE can take custody. Rather than supporting this commonsense cooperation to keep criminals off the streets, Spanberger arrogantly dismissed the practice as “forcing local cops to do ICE’s job.”
Her comments immediately sparked outrage, with Republicans and law-and-order advocates calling out the dangerous consequences of such a policy. The Republican National Committee blasted her remarks on social media, noting: “Abigail Spanberger DOUBLES DOWN on letting sanctuary cities release illegal aliens into our streets instead of working with ICE.”
Enter Stephen Miller, former Trump White House Deputy Chief of Staff and architect of some of the most effective immigration enforcement measures in decades. Miller wasted no time in eviscerating Spanberger’s position, calling it “repugnant” and laying out exactly what her stance means for public safety.
“This is truly repugnant,” Miller wrote. “An ICE detainer asks local police to turn over criminal aliens who have been arrested by local police for a separate crime (eg assault). A Sanctuary City—which Spanberger champions—refuses to transfer custody and instead sets the criminal alien free.”
In other words, under Spanberger’s preferred approach, a violent offender could be arrested for assault, drunk driving, or worse—and instead of being handed over to ICE for deportation, that criminal is simply released back into the community to reoffend.
This isn’t hypothetical. Across the country, there are countless examples of American citizens who have been raped, robbed, assaulted, and even murdered by illegal immigrants who were protected by sanctuary city policies. Families have been shattered, neighborhoods terrorized, and lives destroyed—all because Democrats like Spanberger refuse to put American citizens first.
Miller, who has long argued that sanctuary policies represent one of the greatest threats to public safety, also reminded Americans that the fight isn’t just against rogue politicians—it’s also against the network of left-wing NGOs and activist groups that enable illegal immigration. Commenters on his post echoed this sentiment, with one urging: “All Sanctuary City leaders should be arrested and charged for obstructing justice and abetting illegal alien activity.” Another added, “Can we go after all the NGOs and private foundations that conspire with these lunatic pols to keep these criminals on the streets?”
Spanberger’s reckless comments reveal just how radical the Democratic Party has become. Once upon a time, Democrats at least pretended to care about border security. Now, their candidates openly advocate for policies that protect violent criminals at the expense of law-abiding citizens.
For Spanberger, a former CIA officer now seeking Virginia’s governorship, this isn’t just bad policy—it’s a political liability. Virginians, like most Americans, overwhelmingly oppose sanctuary city protections for illegal immigrants, especially those who commit crimes. Spanberger’s embrace of such policies demonstrates that she is more beholden to the radical open-borders lobby than to the safety of the very citizens she claims to want to represent.
As the gubernatorial race heats up, voters will have to decide whether they want a governor who will prioritize criminals in the country illegally—or one who will stand firmly for law and order, support ICE, and put the safety of Virginians first.
Conservatives like Miller have made it clear: sanctuary policies cost lives. And Abigail Spanberger has made it equally clear that she’s willing to risk those lives for the sake of appeasing the radical left.
