Virginia Democrat Governor Abigail Spanberger says she won’t turn over to U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) an illegal alien with a final order of removal charged last week with murdering a woman by stabbing her to death at a bus stop.
The anti-ICE governor revealed her intent in a statement to local ABC affiliate WJLA7 after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called on Spanberger to commit to honoring immigration detainers lodged against the murder suspect, Abdul Jalloh – an illegal alien who has previously been arrested more than 40 times on charges ranging from rape and malicious wounding to larceny and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The statement from Spanberger’s office says that DHS needs to obtain “a signed judicial warrant” before Virginia will turn over Jalloh for deportation:
“As a former federal law enforcement officer who conducted joint search and arrest warrants alongside state and local officers, Governor Spanberger firmly believes that violent criminals who are in the United States illegally should be deported by immigration enforcement. DHS should request a signed judicial warrant to ensure this violent criminal is deported.”
“Sanctuary @GovernorVA is fighting to protect a MURDERER over American citizens,” DHS responded in a social media post, noting that ICE has the legal authority to make arrests without judicial warrants – and that Spanberger’s ongoing defense of illegal alien criminals endangers Virginia’s citizens:
“This monster is responsible for fatally stabbing Stephanie Minter. ICE does NOT need judicial warrants to make arrests. The heroes of ICE will continue to arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens across the Commonwealth while Governor Spanberger RELEASES them from jails into Virginia communities to commit more crimes and create more victims.”
“This is asinine and legally illiterate,” ICE declared in a social media post Tuesday, warning that Spanberger intends to release a murderer back onto Virginia’s streets:
“After this criminal alien serves his sentence for MURDER, Governor Spanberger will release him back out onto Virginia’s streets, saying that ICE needs a signed ‘judicial warrant’ to detain him.
“This is asinine and legally illiterate. ICE is empowered by federal law to detain illegal aliens, and state officials like Spanberger are REQUIRED to honor ICE detainers. Only a month into being governor, and she’s protecting illegal alien murderers. Disgusting.”
“Federal judicial warrants are for arresting and charging people to stand trial for specific federal crimes before a judge and jury. They have nothing to do with deportation. Zero. Nothing,” White House Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller explained in a post:
“The system for deporting criminal aliens from state custody is, and always has been, ICE requesting a custody transfer prior to release. Thousands of criminals are removed every week through this system.”
“In Sanctuary cities/states, criminal aliens are simply set free to maim and murder,” Miller warned.
What’s more, Gov. Spanberger’s requirement presents ICE with an impossible task, since Jollah is charged with murder in Virginia and judicial warrants are issued only in the case of federal crimes, Fox News D.C. Correspondent Bill Melugin explains in a post:
“Gov. Spanberger's office tells @NickMinock she won't honor an ICE detainer for an illegal alien with 30+ prior arrests, including rape, who is accused of murdering a woman at a bus stop. She wants ICE to get a judicial warrant - which isn't possible unless there is suspicion of *FEDERAL CRIME*. Murder, rape, etc are largely state crimes. It's remarkable how few politicians understand how this works. A federal judicial warrant can only be signed off on by a federal judge if there is probable cause that a FEDERAL CRIME has been committed.”
Accusations that Democrats like Gov. Spanberger are favoring criminal illegal aliens over vulnerable American citizens were borne out last week during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address to Congress.
During his address, Pres. Trump called members of Congress in attendance to show whose safety they most prioritize:
"If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support: the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens."
While Democrats sat silently in solidarity on their side of the isle, Republican lawmakers stood in unison and clapped in support of ensuring the safety of American citizens. Chants of “U-S-A!” then broke out.
President Trump issues a challenge to Congress:
— Media Research Center (@theMRC) February 25, 2026
"If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support. The 1st duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens."
Democrats don't stand. pic.twitter.com/UVWGylew72
