Kiggans Joins Cline to Protect State Law Enforcement Cooperation with Federal Immigration Services 

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02) signed on as an original co-sponsor of Rep. Ben Cline’s (VA-06) 287(g) Cooperation Act of 2026 to strengthen federal-local immigration enforcement partnerships by requiring state and local law enforcement agencies to enter into a 287(g) memorandum of agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as a condition of receiving Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants.

Congresswoman Kiggans said, “The Virginia Governor’s decision to cease cooperation between state law enforcement and federal immigration services is reckless and puts our law enforcement personnel at a significant disadvantage as they work every day to protect our communities. After years of unprecedented illegal crossings at our southern border, we must ensure that law enforcement is equipped with the resources they need to keep us safe. I am proud to join Rep. Cline on this effort to strengthen cooperation between federal and state authorities, restore accountability, and ensure our law enforcement agencies can do their jobs effectively and safely.”

Read the bill here. 

Background:

In February 2026, Rep. Kiggans joined Reps. Morgan Griffith (VA-09), John McGuire (VA-05), Ben Cline (VA-06), and Rob Wittman (VA-01) in sending a letter to Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger regarding her executive order to rescind state law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration services. Read the letter here.