Richmond Mayor Danny Avula issued a statement addressing recent activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the city. He emphasized that Richmond aims to be a place where all residents, regardless of immigration status, can safely access city services, report crimes, and interact with local government.
Avula expressed concern about the impact of ICE operations on community trust. “The recent ICE activity is deeply concerning. It undermines the trust that is essential between law enforcement and the communities they serve. As an immigrant myself, I am extremely mindful of the fear and uncertainty such actions create,” he said.
He clarified that Richmond does not cooperate with ICE on deportation matters. “Richmond does not and will not coordinate with ICE on deportation. RPD Chief Edwards and I are in lockstep in our support of local communities, and the Richmond Police Department has not signed a 287(g) agreement with ICE. Our officers are here to protect our neighborhoods, not to enforce federal immigration policies,” Avula stated.
Regarding technology used by police for crime investigations, Avula noted that License Plate Reader data collected by Flock systems is retained for 21 days before deletion. He added that this information is not shared with other federal agencies and regular audits are performed to prevent unauthorized access.
Avula outlined several steps moving forward: “We will continue to provide residents with information about their Constitutional rights and direct folks to private law firms and service providers through our Navigation Services and trusted community partners.”
He also reaffirmed his commitment to supporting all city residents: “I will continue to do everything within my power to protect and support Richmonders – no matter where they come from, because our strength comes from the diversity, resilience, and contributions of all who call it home.”
Finally, Avula committed to meeting families affected by recent detentions: “Finally, I will commit to meeting with the families of residents detained, to see, first-hand, the impacts on our communities.”
