Robert Wittman

Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., says Virginia will play an important role in the battle for control of the House this November as he campaigns for another term in the commonwealth's 1st Congressional District.

With 41 days until Election Day, Wittman joined The National News Desk to discuss the congressional races in Virginia, public safety and an ongoing dispute over how state law enforcement should cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

"I do think Republicans will hold the House majority, and the House majority runs right through Virginia," Wittman said, offering his assessment of the election. "These are highly contested races."

Wittman said his campaign is focused on issues he says he is hearing about from voters across the district, including the economy, public safety and national defense.

"Our job in the next 41 days is to make sure we're out there talking to folks, listening to them and then addressing their concerns and telling them not only the things that we've done, but, you know, elections are about vision," Wittman said. "Elections are about the things yet to be done."

"We're talking about the economy, talking about public safety, talking about this nation's military, all things that are in the forefront of people's minds," he added.

The congressman's comments come as Virginia Republicans and Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger remain divided over the state's role in federal immigration enforcement.

Spanberger rescinded an order from former Gov. Glenn Youngkin that had directed the Virginia State Police and Department of Corrections to enter into agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under Section 287(g) of federal immigration law. Her administration subsequently directed state agencies to terminate existing 287(g) agreements, which allow designated state and local officers to perform certain immigration enforcement functions under ICE supervision.

Spanberger has argued that state officers should concentrate their resources on enforcing Virginia law, investigating crime and maintaining public trust rather than performing federal civil immigration enforcement. Her administration has also said Virginia law enforcement can continue cooperating with federal authorities under valid judicial warrants and in criminal investigations.

Wittman disagrees with the governor's approach and argues closer cooperation between local, state and federal authorities is necessary to protect the public.

"It's critical that all law enforcement agencies work together — local, state and federal," Wittman said. "Especially when you have criminals that are on the loose, you want to make sure that you get them apprehended."

"When you don't have that cooperation, our communities are not safe," he added.

Wittman and other members of Virginia's Republican congressional delegation previously criticized Spanberger's decision to end the state's 287(g) agreements, arguing in a February letter that reduced cooperation could make apprehending people wanted by federal immigration authorities more difficult and dangerous.

During the interview, Wittman argued that problems arise when people sought by federal immigration authorities are released from local custody rather than transferred to federal authorities.

"When the local and state officials don't honor the detainers that have been issued by federal law enforcement and they release those individuals, we've seen [some] commit more crimes, have harmed more individuals," Wittman said. "That's not good for communities. It makes our communities less safe."

The legal and policy picture is more nuanced than a blanket prohibition on cooperation. Spanberger's administration said in April that its framework allows the Virginia Department of Corrections, local sheriffs and jails to honor ICE detainers and transfer custody of a person convicted of a felony. The governor has maintained that her policies distinguish between cooperation involving criminal activity and having state officers perform federal civil immigration enforcement.

Asked about the argument that state and local officers should concentrate on state law while federal authorities handle immigration enforcement, Wittman said the responsibilities do not have to be mutually exclusive.

"They both should," Wittman said. "But when you have an opportunity for them to cooperate together to make communities safer, to get those criminals off the street, then they ought to be doing that."

"To me, it's just common sense," he added.

Wittman said law enforcement officials he has spoken with have expressed frustration over restrictions on cooperation and argued that releasing people who could otherwise be transferred to federal authorities can create additional public safety risks.

"That's not how our law enforcement system should work," Wittman said.

As he campaigns for reelection, Wittman also highlighted his congressional record and outlined several priorities he wants to carry into another term.

"This is an election of contrast," Wittman said. "It's about my record of leadership and experience, about working hard to make sure we're protecting military families and veterans, lowering costs, strengthening local economies and businesses."

Wittman also pointed to protecting the Chesapeake Bay, supporting law enforcement and assisting local governments as priorities.

"We've had a very strong record of doing that," Wittman said. "We want to make sure we continue to work on those things and serve the great constituents here in America's 1st District."

Wittman currently represents Virginia's 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House. His official congressional office lists national defense, jobs and the economy, veterans, infrastructure and environmental conservation among his policy priorities.