The Trump admin has been ramping up deportations. But more changes are on the way.
Because a top Republican Governor just surprised Trump with an eyebrow-raising executive order.
VA Governor Glenn Youngkin Signs New Executive Order To Assist Trump Admin
On Thursday, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, signed an executive order allowing state law enforcement to assist federal authorities in combating illegal immigration. The order grants state law enforcement the authority to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in the removal of migrants and other enforcement activities. It also urges Virginia cities and towns to permit local law enforcement to assist with deportation and arrest operations.
“As Governor, protecting our citizens is my foremost responsibility, and today we are taking action that will make Virginia safer by removing dangerous criminal illegal immigrants from our Commonwealth,” Youngkin stated. “Dangerous criminal illegal immigrants should not be allowed back into our communities to assault, rape, and murder. They should be sent back where they came from.”
The order mandates that the Virginia State Police enter into a Task Force Model Memorandum of Understanding with ICE, which will create a State Police Task Force of federally deputized officers.
Thank you Acting Director Vitello for signing Virginia’s 287(g) MOU. We are going to work to help you @RealTomHoman and President @realDonaldTrump enforce America’s immigration laws to keep Virginians safe from dangerous illegal immigrants. pic.twitter.com/Q2hf0JItQ8
— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) February 28, 2025
This action comes as the Trump administration continues its push to address illegal immigration, which surged during the Biden administration, and to secure the U.S. southern border. Recently, the Trump administration announced that they had reached a milestone of arresting 20,000 illegal immigrants in Donald Trump’s first month in office.
Trump Open to Private Forces for Mass Deportations, But Doubts Necessity of Proposal
President Donald Trump addressed the controversial mass deportation proposal put forward by former Blackwater CEO Erik Prince on Thursday. Speaking from the Oval Office alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump stated that although he had not reviewed the specifics of the plan, he would not be opposed to the idea of using private forces to assist in his goal of removing millions of undocumented immigrants from the country.
Despite not having read the proposal, Trump emphasized that he did not consider it necessary to take such drastic measures. “I don’t think it’s necessary and that my officials are doing a ‘phenomenal job,'” he said, referring to the ongoing efforts by his administration to carry out immigration enforcement. He further clarified his position, noting, “I wouldn’t be opposed to it, necessarily, but I’d go to our military people, and I’d go to Tom Homan and Kristi [Noem] — I’d go to the various [people] and ask.” Homan serves as the president’s border czar, while Noem is the Homeland Security Secretary. “But I don’t see it as being — we’re doing unbelievably and getting people out, getting criminals out,” Trump added, reinforcing his belief that the current approach was working.
Trump’s remarks came shortly after POLITICO published an exclusive report revealing a proposal from Prince and other military contractors. The document outlines a plan to execute mass deportations by establishing “processing camps” on military bases, using a private fleet of 100 planes, and deploying a “small army” of private citizens authorized to make arrests. The 26-page proposal, which carries an estimated cost of $25 million, suggests using aggressive tactics to rapidly deport up to 12 million people before the 2026 midterms.
The emergence of this proposal underscores the challenges the Trump administration faces in fulfilling its ambitious deportation promises. As the administration seeks additional resources to carry out the deportation agenda, private contractors have seized the opportunity, offering to step in where the government might fall short. Conversations with military contractors are reportedly ongoing, signaling the administration’s interest in exploring unconventional solutions to the issue of undocumented immigration.
In a separate interview on NewsNation, Erik Prince addressed questions about the memo, which has sparked concerns regarding the creation of a private army. He denied that the proposal envisioned a private military force, instead describing it as a logistical blueprint to facilitate the removal of millions of individuals. “It was a memo generated to describe how to achieve the logistics necessary to move the millions of people that intend to deport,” Prince clarified.
The Federalist Wire will update you on any major immigration news and reports.
