As the General Assembly reaches mid-session, the City of Alexandria is supporting nearly 400 proposed bills, including restrictions on immigration enforcement.
Wendy Ginsberg, the city’s legislative director, provided a mid-session General Assembly update to City Council yesterday (Tuesday). According to Ginsberg, city staff have reviewed 584 bills for potential impacts to the city. During the presentation, Councilman Abdel Elnoubi requested an update on the immigration enforcement-related bills, which Ginsberg said are continuing to make progress.
Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-3), who represents part of Alexandria, introduced bills to prohibit federal immigration enforcement within 40 feet of polling places and in places like hospitals and schools. Those bills have been incorporated into another House bill that would prohibit the civil arrest of a person while attending or going to and from their court hearing, except when an agent meets requirements like a judicial order or warrant.
Another Lopez bill would prohibit law enforcement from assisting federal immigration enforcement operations, except when there’s a judicial warrant, subpoena or detainer. Ginsberg said that would codify the executive directive from Gov. Abigail Spanberger to remove cooperation between state and local law enforcement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“[Those bills] are still very much alive and they are moving through the legislative process,” Ginsberg said.
Another proposed bill seeks to address a concern of ICE agents hiding their identity with masks. The Senate version of the bill proposing restrictions on law enforcement officers wearing masks passed in that chamber, and the House version is in committee.
“We actually worked really closely with Sen. [Saddam Azlan] Salim, who had the Senate version of that bill, to make sure that it worked for APD so undercover officers could continue to wear masks for those purposes,” Ginsberg said.
Along with supporting nearly 400 bills, the city is opposing more than 40 bills and monitoring the impact of more than 140 additional bills. City Council accepted last night’s report but did not take a formal vote on legislative positions.
The 2026 General Assembly Legislative Package adopted by City Council called for restrictions on local law enforcement’s involvement in federal immigration enforcement. City Council has also pressed the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office to end what councilmembers described as voluntary cooperation with ICE.
Along with the hundreds of proposed state bills, Ginsberg noted several proposed budget amendments that have local implications for Alexandria.
Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) proposed $2 million to fund accessibility improvements for the Freedom House Museum restoration project. Also, a budget amendment by State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39) calls for an annual $12.2 million to support the Northern Virginia Emergency Response System, a regional emergency response initiative.
The state funds are intended offset the Trump administration’s cuts to the Urban Area Security Initiative, which provides federal grants supporting urban areas at high risk of terrorism and more emergencies.
Another proposal from Ebbin calls for convening a work group to review local government funding of state positions. The proposed budget amendment notes the City of Alexandria contributes $30 million annually for state positions in the Alexandria Health Department, courts, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Alexandria Sheriff’s Office and the Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
Ginsberg said the first half of the General Assembly has advanced hundreds of bills at a fast pace through subcommittees, committees and the full House and Senate.
Crossover, the deadline for bills to be passed from the Senate or House to the other chamber, will happen on Feb. 18.
“We expect significant movement between now and crossover, and staff will continue to adjust our strategy in real time to protect and advocate for Alexandria’s interests,” Ginsberg said.
Senate and House budget committees will present their final proposed budget amendments on Feb. 22, followed by the deadline for budget amendment action on Feb. 26 and action by the other chamber on March 4.
The General Assembly session will end on March 14 and will reconvene on April 22 after Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) acts on the passed legislation.
