This story was reported and written by Radio IQ.
President Donald Trump promised large scale deportations when he took office and reports are beginning to trickle in that those accused, but not necessarily convicted, of crimes are starting to be removed from the country.
In Richmond, where the 2025 legislative session is ongoing, Latino members of the General Assembly and advocates are pushing back as fears grow.
“It would be a devastating change in how we as Americans have lived our lives and what we know as the United States,” Delegate Alphonso Lopez told reporters Tuesday as Trump’s promise to deport people in the U. S. without legal status begins to take shape.
According to a social media post by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, nearly 1,000 people were arrested on Sunday.
It sent shockwaves through Virginia’s Latino community, according to Lopez and other advocates; His Northern Virginia district is among the most diverse in the state, an estimated 900,000 Latinos call the Commonwealth home.
Walter Tejada was the first Latino elected to public office in Virginia, and he spoke Tuesday as the president of Virginia’s Latino Council. He told reporters activists like him would fight to protect those who don’t deserve deportation, but it was up to others to speak up as well.
“Silence is betrayal - silencio es traición," Tejada said. "All of us have the fundamental responsibility to speak up and speak out against an injustice.”
Governor Glenn Youngkin, meanwhile, reiterated his commitment to Trump’s plan via a spokesperson’s social media post. Senate Republican Minority Leader Ryan McDougle also said he backed federal removals.
“People can disagree on that, but that is a policy decision we support,” McDougle said Tuesday at a press conference.
Those close to the issue say they have concerns about Youngkin sharing data which could help target those without legal status. The governor did not respond to specific questions about the sharing of such data.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
Copyright 2025 RADIO IQ
