VIRGINIA: In AG Race, Jay Jones Threatens Gun Rights ‘Sanctuaries’—But Not Illegal Aliens
Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones fully supports sanctuary cities for illegal aliens, but in 2019 took a firm stance against sanctuary cities gun owners who desperately needed constitutional protections.
Democratic Attorney General candidate Jay Jones has adopted a dangerous stance on the law—one that protects criminals while subjecting law-abiding Virginians, especially gun owners, to undue scrutiny and penalization.
In 2019, while serving as a representative in the Virginia House of Delegates, Jones contacted then–Attorney General Mark Herring (D) for an opinion on sanctuary cities for gun owners. Unsurprisingly, Jones received the opinion he desired: Sanctuary cities for gun owners do not hold legal weight—or at least, that's what the Democratic Attorney General believed.
The sanctuary cities came as a last line of defense against a blue trifecta in the state, and sought to protect Virginians from aggressive gun control legislation that would have banned so-called assault weapons, limited magazine capacity, introduced universal background checks, and added heightened restrictions on private firearm transfers.
Fast forward to 2025, and Jones now sings a new tune. As an ongoing wave of criminal activity engulfs the United States—largely due to the failed border policies of former President Joe Biden—Jones has firmly planted his foot on supporting sanctuary cities for illegal aliens.
Jones' decision goes against what Virginians want. A recent Restoration of America poll of over 250,000 voters statewide showed that 68 percent of Virginians support Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares' plan to enforce immigration laws.
ICE has officially arrested a documented MS-13 gang member in Fairfax, Virginia that has been protected by sanctuary cities, per Fox News. pic.twitter.com/boxKfLxG7Q
— Danielle D'Souza Gill (@danielledsouzag) May 16, 2025
(RELATED: Jay Jones Dreams of Disarming Law-Abiding Virginians While Playing 'Big Brother')
Jones Promotes Lawlessness
During his three years in the House of Delegates, Jones backed radical bills that coddle illegal aliens—and unsurprisingly, crime is now rampant.
In 2020, Jones voted to approve SB 935, a bill that granted in-state tuition to illegal immigrants—extending public benefits traditionally reserved for Virginia residents to individuals living unlawfully in the commonwealth.
That same year, he supported HB 1150, which eliminated the requirement for jails and prisons to report inmates’ citizenship status to federal authorities. In 2018, Jones joined the far-left flank of the legislature in voting against HB 1257, which would have prohibited sanctuary cities in Virginia.
Sadly, these policies work against law-abiding Virginians and many sheriffs are now refusing to cooperate with ICE. Since February, Richmond police have not turned over any detainees to ICE, but jail records show at least four aliens currently in the facility—including one charged with murder.
On October 21, 2024, Darwan Fernandez-Juarez was charged with the possession or transportation of a firearm by an alien. He was also charged with first degree murder. 19-year-old Enri Paz Morales was charged on April 5, 2025, with the possession or transportation of a firearm by an alien and was previously convicted of felony firearm possession.
On May 5, Jorge Enamorado-Cruz was arrested for two counts of possession or transportation of a firearm by an alien. Jose Baca Gutierrez was arrested on the same charges on June 1.
If Jones continues to tote the leftist line that promotes criminal behavior, he will spell disaster for Virginia.
(RELATED: Virginia Sheriffs Shield Illegal Alien Criminals from ICE—Democrats Silent)
Throwing Gun Owners to the Wolves
Jay Jones' hypocrisy on sanctuary cities isn’t just politically troubling—it's dangerous. While he supports sanctuary policies that allow criminal illegal aliens to evade law enforcement, he opposes sanctuary protections for law-abiding gun owners.
The result? Violent offenders get cover, while everyday Virginians are left defenseless against unconstitutional overreach.
Sanctuary cities for gun owners serve a very different purpose than those protecting illegal immigrants—they shield citizens from laws that infringe on their Second Amendment rights. These laws are often tied up in lengthy court battles, but remain enforceable during litigation—violating the rights of millions in the meantime.
If elected, Jones will be another cog in the Left’s Second Amendment disarmament machine. Democrat gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger has already signaled her intent to flood Virginia with gun control bills and the Virginia legislature is currently blue.
Attorney General Jason Miyares and Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) has acted as a critical firewall, vetoing an astonishing 54 gun control bills pushed by the radical Left. With Jones and Spanberger at the helm, all of his work will be undone.
"I swore an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of Virginia, and that absolutely includes protecting the right of law-abiding Virginians to keep and bear arms," said Gov. Youngkin.
(RELATED: Gun Owners, Here's What Virginia Would Look Like If Dem Abigail Spanberger Was Governor)
