Virginia’s attorney general opened a civil rights investigation into a county sheriff who cooperated with federal immigration agents.
Democratic Attorney General Jay Jones sent a letter dated August 5th to Greene County Sheriff Steven Smith, informing him that his office’s traffic stops are under formal scrutiny. The investigation stems from a June 23rd operation in Ruckersville, where sheriff’s deputies and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers conducted coordinated vehicle stops near Routes 29 and 33. Around 49 people were detained.
Jones has not filed criminal charges. The inquiry is civil in nature, authorized under Virginia Code Section 2.2-511.1, which allows the attorney general to investigate alleged patterns of law enforcement conduct that may deprive people of protected rights. No court has found that Smith or his deputies acted unlawfully.
The operation happened eight days before a new Virginia law took effect on July 1st, limiting how much local agencies can cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
As originally reported, WJLA journalist Nick Minock published the August 5th letter and described Jones as “going after” Smith for his cooperation with ICE. Minock noted that the operation produced roughly 50 arrests based on local reports.
Jones’ office stated it had reviewed allegations that the Greene County Sheriff’s Office may be conducting traffic stops in violation of state law and the Constitution. The office requested a decade’s worth of training materials, along with the department’s traffic stop and immigration enforcement policies, and any communications involving federal agencies.
Smith pushed back firmly. He told C-VILLE Weekly that his deputies pulled drivers over for the same reasons they stop anyone, including speeding, crossing the center line, swerving, and running red lights. Photographs from the scene showed people in federal and sheriff’s office gear at multiple stop locations.
Smith also defended his position as an independently elected official, not someone who reports to the governor or the attorney general. “Sheriffs are elected officials. We don’t answer to the governor. We answer to the citizens of the counties we live in,” he said. He added that he believed every deputy who participated in the ICE operation held the required federal certification, though he acknowledged not every member of his office had completed the training.
The ACLU of Virginia added political pressure after the June arrests, accusing local officers of coordinating with ICE to terrorize and racially profile communities. The group urged Jones to hold local officials accountable.
Smith showed no sign of changing course. He told C-VILLE Weekly that his department was sworn to uphold the law and protect its citizens, and that he intended to keep doing exactly that. Jones’ office has requested records but has not filed a lawsuit.