As Trump promises deportations, Richmond police chief says immigrants will ‘have no issues’ with local cops

At a community meeting in South Richmond last month, Police Chief Rick Edwards was asked what role his department might play if President-elect Donald Trump carries through on his campaign promise to conduct mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.

Explaining the differences between federal, state and local responsibilities, Edwards said his office probably wouldn’t play a role in any Trump-ordered crackdown on immigrant communities.

“What I want to say to this community is we’re not focusing on that,” Edwards said, drawing applause from a crowd gathered at the Satellite Restaurant for City Councilor Reva Trammell’s 8th District meeting. “And that folks who have concerns about their immigration status will have no issues with the Richmond Police Department.”

It remains to be seen what Trump will do on immigration once he’s back in the White House, but several Richmond officials have expressed concern that Trump’s victory could make local immigrants fearful of interacting with city police, even when they’ve been the victims of crime.

Edwards and Mayor Levar Stoney have both made public statements seeking to ease those fears.

At a news conference last month, Stoney said the city should stick with the directive he issued in 2017 stating that Richmond would not enter into what’s known as a 287(g) agreement allowing local authorities to be involved in immigration enforcement as an extension of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Limiting cooperation with ICE, Stoney said, sends a message to local immigrants that they can seek help from and interact with local authorities.

“‘It sends a message that you can always call your police department for public safety matters without fear that they’re going to be cooperating with ICE,” Stoney said.

Mayor-elect Danny Avula, who will be Richmond’s first immigrant mayor when he’s sworn into office next month, has already indicated he’ll continue that policy. In an interview with The Richmond Times-Dispatch, Avula said city police won’t participate in enforcing Trump’s immigration policies.

In 2017, Stoney stopped short of declaring Richmond a “sanctuary city.” But Trump’s victory earlier this month has Democratic cities across the country looking anew at what role they should play if federal authorities move to deport millions of people.

Virginia law gives local law enforcement officers the ability to arrest undocumented immigrants, but only if the person is suspected of committing a crime.

Police officials in Henrico and Chesterfield counties said they too do not have a 287(g) agreement in place with ICE to conduct broader immigration enforcement activities in the county.

“We understand this is a nationwide issue and Henrico Police will continue to enforce laws across the county and focus on ways to address/prevent crime in our communities,” said Henrico Police spokeswoman Karina Bolster.