Virginia Attorney General Launches Civil Rights Probe Into Greene County Sheriff's ICE Cooperation as Policy Clash Escalates

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones has opened a civil rights investigation into Greene County Sheriff Steve Smith, examining whether his department's traffic-stop practices comply with state law and the Constitution amid allegations of profiling tied to cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The investigation, announced by Jones' Office of Civil Rights, demands records from Smith's office concerning immigration enforcement policies, training materials, and agreements with federal agencies. The inquiry centers on concerns that GCSO may be conducting traffic stops in violation of legal standards.

Smith has defended his deputies' methods, telling Charlottesville media that officers apply reasonable suspicion—"the same as we do for all vehicles"—when initiating stops. Speeding, failure to maintain a lane, and running red lights most often prompt the stops, he said.

The investigation arrives amid intensifying tension between Virginia's Democratic leadership and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement. The dispute has quickly become a flashpoint in ongoing debates about federal-state cooperation on immigration policy.

A Rural County at the Center of the Storm

Greene County, a small rural jurisdiction along major transportation corridors, has drawn national attention for its aggressive partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The county sits where U.S. 29—connecting Washington, D.C., with Charlottesville and points south—intersects with U.S. 33, which stretches from Richmond into western Virginia.

In June, a joint operation near that intersection resulted in 49 people being detained by ICE. Another operation in nearby Ruckersville in May led to 26 arrests, including a Honduran man identified by the Department of Homeland Security as a member of the MS-13 gang. ICE confirmed the Ruckersville operation, stating all individuals were transported to ICE facilities for processing and would remain in custody pending removal proceedings.

Political Fallout

Virginia House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore, a Republican from Gate City, accused Jones and Virginia's Democratic administration of refusing to work with President Donald Trump's administration on immigration enforcement.

"This is the whole administration's way of operating," Kilgore said. "They are so opposed to Trump that they want to ensure they don't cooperate with him in any area, and they want to make it unsafe for Virginians."

Kilgore praised Smith for his work with ICE, contrasting it with Jones' actions.

"I applaud the Greene County sheriff for working with ICE to ensure we don't have illegal immigrants on our roads committing crimes," Kilgore said. "Unlike our attorney general, who is the chief law enforcement officer of this state yet is picking fights with sheriffs over illegal immigrants."

Kilgore described Jones' legal challenges as "another way they try to stick their thumb in the administration's eye," arguing that blocking federal access to commercial driver records endangered public safety.

"Once again, they're siding with illegal immigrants driving 18-wheelers who could harm our citizens because they're not qualified," he said.

State Policy Shifts

The investigation follows significant changes in Virginia's immigration enforcement posture since Governor Abigail Spanberger took office. Spanberger, who endorsed Jones during her campaign, rescinded former Governor Glenn Youngkin's order encouraging ICE cooperation on her first day in office.

On April 22, Spanberger signed legislation restricting state and local participation in federal civil immigration enforcement. The law, sponsored by Delegate Alfonso Lopez, an Arlington Democrat, limits how Virginia law enforcement agencies can assist federal immigration authorities.

Smith told the Piedmont Journal-Recorder that he would "continue to assist ICE with their operations" after discussing the new law with Delegate Karen Hamilton, a Republican from Stanardsville. He declined further comment, citing his retention of counsel.

Broader Legal Battle

Beyond the sheriff's investigation, Jones has positioned himself as a counterweight to the Trump administration's immigration agenda through a separate legal challenge. Virginia joined a lawsuit opposing the U.S. Department of Transportation's demand for bulk transfer of commercial driver records covering approximately 17 million drivers.

The Trump administration sought the data as part of a crackdown on drivers who fail to meet English-language requirements or who are in the country illegally. The administration has pointed to illegal immigrant truckers accused of causing serious accidents as justification for stricter oversight.

A federal judge temporarily blocked the transfer, with Jones calling it an "important win for protecting the privacy of millions of commercial drivers."

ICE maintained that partnerships with local law enforcement are essential for immigration enforcement.

"When politicians bar local law enforcement from working with DHS, our officers have to have a more visible presence to find and apprehend criminals released from jails back into communities," an ICE spokesperson said.

Mixed Reactions

State Senator Creigh Deeds, a Charlottesville Democrat whose district borders Greene County, expressed disappointment with the confrontation between the state and sheriff's office.

"Certainly we all want people who come into this country legally, but the people who are here are largely here to fill a need—that's work," Deeds said.

Former Delegate Nick Freitas criticized Jones' investigation, saying, "The Virginia AG is going after a cop for doing actual cop things."

Former Delegate Kim Taylor, a Republican from Petersburg, referenced past controversial text messages Jones sent to another former lawmaker imagining violence against a political opponent—a scandal that nearly derailed his campaign.

"For an attorney general who once talked about putting 'two bullets' in a political opponent to now lecture law enforcement is hypocrisy at its worst," Taylor said.

Jones' office did not respond to requests for comment. The Governor's office and ICE also declined to comment.