Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest rates have spiked in Virginia. And they have increased at higher rates than most other states, The New York Times reports.
Since 2024, ICE arrests have increased by more than 350 percent in Virginia. This outpaces ICE arrest rates in states like California, New York, Florida, and Texas.
In the first five months of 2025, ICE has arrested more than 2,500 people in Virginia. And roughly twice as many arrests have happened in Fairfax County than in any other Virginia county.
Compared to other states with increased ICE arrests, immigrants in Virginia make up a smaller percentage of the total population. Virginia is currently home to about 1.16 million foreign-born people. This represents about 13.3 percent of the total population, according to the World Population Review. By comparison, California’s foreign-born population represents 27.3 percent of its total population, New York’s is 23.1 percent, Florida’s is 22.1 percent, and Texas’s is 17.9 percent
Immigration lawyer Ava Benach told The New York Times that the focus on Northern Virginia likely has to do with its proximity to Washington, DC.
Youngkin Defends Courthouse ICE Arrests
Gov. Glenn Youngkin spoke at the Virginia State Police headquarters on July 1. He said that the commonwealth has arrested more than 2,500 immigrants. He defended the use of courthouse arrests, in which ICE officers detain individuals outside of courthouses when they arrive for hearings.
“Let’s just be clear, the vast majority of the people that have been arrested at courthouses around the country are committing violent crimes,” Youngkin said. “If someone breaks the law and is here illegally, they should be arrested.”
Specifically, Youngkin praised efforts by the Virginia Homeland Security Task Force, calling it “extremely successful.” VHSTF began operations in February.
Feature image courtesy ICE
