Jay Jones Backed Sanctuary Havens for Illegal Alien Criminals—Virginia AG Race
The ex-delegate has a history of supporting illegal aliens and criminals that disqualifies him in the race for Attorney General.
Democrat Jay Jones' voting record in Virginia's House of Delegates reveals support for granting illegal aliens public benefits and shielding them from deportation, according to analysis by Restoration News.
The ex-Goldman Sachs associate, who was defeated in 2021 by Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares and faces a bitter primary on June 17, backed radical bills during his three years in the House of Delegates representing Norfolk. If he wins the primary, he'll go on to a rematch with incumbent AG Miyares, who is running for reelection on a strong anti-crime and anti-illegal immigration platform.
In 2020, then-Del. Jones voted to grant in-state tuition status to illegal aliens on a party-line vote (SB 935), extending public benefits usually reserved for Virginia residents to non-citizens living illegally in the commonwealth.
That same year, Jones voted to eliminate a requirement for jails and prisons to report inmates' citizenship status, a powerful tool for Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to identify non-citizens who've broken federal immigration law. The bill (HB 1150) passed 21–19 on party lines.
In 2018, Jones voted with radical Democrats against a bill (HB 1257) that would've prohibited sanctuary cities in the commonwealth, or jurisdictions that shield illegal aliens—including murderers and drug traffickers—from ICE deportation. The Republican-backed bill, which split 51–49 along party lines, passed the General Assembly but was vetoed by Democrat Gov. Ralph Northam, an ally of illegal immigration groups, who claimed the bill "sends a chilling messages to communities across Virginia."
(RELATED: Abigail Spanberger Backed Biden's Open Borders. Now Virginians are Paying the Price.)
84 Virginia localities have adopted sanctuary status to block cooperation with federal immigration officials, including many in the Tidewater region in and around Jones' former district.
As a result, the commonwealth has become a haven for ultra-violent thugs in the Latin American MS-13 and Tren de Aragua gangs, whose drug-trafficking operations have permeated Virginia.
ICE officials under President Trump—with the support of Virginia Republicans Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Jason Miyares, both running in 2025—have deported hundreds of criminal aliens across the commonwealth for visa fraud, drug possession, and other serious crimes. In April, ICE arrested an MS-13 leader in Alexandria wanted for terrorism, blackmail, and extortion.
"Virginia’s law enforcement professionals have both the authority and a moral duty to cooperate with every lawful federal immigration order to the maximum extent possible," Miyares said of a new agreement to deputize Virginia State Police to assist in federal immigration enforcement—the opposite of Jones' position.
Early voting in Virginia's June primary began May 2. The general election is on November 4.
(MORE FROM VIRGINIA: Fauquier Teacher Accused of Encouraging Sexual Acts with Special Needs Student)
