If 1 in 5 Fairfax Residents Is Illegal, We Need Mass Deportations in Virginia Immediately

In this The Federalist article, Samuel Kimzey argues that Virginia’s new immigration posture under Gov. Abigail Spanberger shows why federal immigration enforcement and mass deportations are urgently needed.

• Kimzey criticizes Spanberger’s May 20 executive order, saying it restricts ICE activity at state property, hospitals, schools, and polling locations while pretending to merely “comply with federal law.”
• The piece says Spanberger’s earlier directive rescinding state agency law-enforcement agreements with ICE set the tone for Virginia’s shift toward sanctuary-style policies.
• Kimzey points to Cato Institute analyst David Bier’s claim that roughly one in five Fairfax residents could be deported or lives with someone who could be deported, arguing that such a figure should strengthen the case for enforcement rather than weaken it.
• The article contends that a large illegal-alien population distorts political representation, especially if noncitizens are counted in ways that affect local, state, or federal power.
• Kimzey argues illegal immigration creates economic burdens for American citizens by increasing competition for jobs, housing, public services, and taxpayer-funded welfare programs.
• Fairfax County is portrayed as a focal point of the sanctuary-jurisdiction problem, with the article citing allegations that local officials have released or attempted to release illegal aliens accused of serious crimes.
• The article urges the Trump administration to apply federal pressure on Virginia through more ICE agents, lawsuits, funding restrictions, investigations, and other penalties.
• Kimzey argues Virginia’s Democratic control makes state-level reform unlikely, so any hope for reversing the trend may depend on federal action.
• The piece concludes that arresting, detaining, and deporting illegal aliens would improve communities like Fairfax County and protect American citizens.

Read the full story: https://thefederalist.com/2026/05/28/if-1-in-5-fairfax-residents-is-illegal-we-need-mass-deportations-in-virginia-immediately/