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Dear Friend,
This newsletter shares my statement of support for the Hanover County Board of Supervisors’ rejection of a large-scale ICE detention facility in the locality, spotlights a Senate Chamber’s center aisle presentation that honored Virginia’s own Billy Wagner, and highlights select community engagements from this past week. Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter and for staying informed.
Rejection of Proposed Large-Scale ICE Detention Facility in Hanover County
This past week, the Hanover County Board of Supervisors heard the concerns of hundreds of constituents regarding the potential development of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention and processing facility and subsequently released a public statement opposing the proposed facility.
I support the Board’s decision and commend the Supervisors for prioritizing public safety and public engagement in their decision. My statement is below.
“I support the decision of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors to reject the proposed ICE site and strongly urge opposition to any other detention facilities within the county. The Board made clear that this proposal was advanced without transparency, without local input, and without regard for its impact on the community.
“I have long advocated for a more accountable and humane approach to immigration enforcement in Virginia, and have raised concerns about expanding large-scale immigration detention facilities because of the real harms they cause, including family separation, insufficient regulation and safety standards, and the chilling effect they have on communities, schools, local law enforcement, the broader community, and fundamental human rights.
“Moreover, large-scale detention has raised persistent legal concerns, particularly when oversight, standards of care, and due process protections are lacking, creating substantial legal and financial risk for states and localities, while doing nothing to solve the challenges within our immigration system and instead diverting resources away from what actually works: the rule of law, accountability, and transparency.”
In the subsequent days since the Board met, the owner of the site, Canada-based Jim Pattison Developments, has shared that it will not be selling its Hanover facility to the Department of Homeland Security [[link removed]] .
Commending William ‘Billy’ Wagner
This past Thursday, the Senate of Virginia honored Marion native William ‘Billy’ Wagner with a center aisle presentation of Senate Joint Resolution 323 [[link removed]] , commending his numerous achievements and expressing appreciation for his contributions. Throughout his Major League Baseball career spanning fifteen years, Wagner played for the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, and the Atlanta Braves. His success in the MLB earned him many accolades including seven all-star team selections, the Rolaids Relief Man Award in 1999, and ultimately, his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025.
Honored traditions such as commending resolutions allow the General Assembly to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of exceptional Virginians.
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Billy Wagner joined me and Senator Travis Hackworth (left) of Tazewell, the lead sponsor of SJ323 [[link removed]] , on the dais of the Senate Chamber to receive his commending resolution.
Select Community Engagements
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On Wednesday morning, I welcomed the Virginia Society of Clinical Social Workers leadership team to learn about their legislative priorities in the 2026 legislative session. I was pleased to learn of Virginia’s founding member status and the increased number of states that have enacted identical legislation to join the Social Work Licensure Compact. In 2024, I carried SB239 [[link removed]] , allowing Virginia to join the interstate compact and enabling licensed clinical social workers to provide needed care in other member states.
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Later that evening, I joined the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association for its centennial celebration. My comments highlighted our shared commitment to advance access and quality of care for all Virginians. I look forward to working with our diverse stakeholders to navigate the unprecedented challenges now facing our health care systems.
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On Thursday morning, I was pleased to join the Virginia Health Care for All Coalition Breakfast to thank advocates for their critical work to expand state health care funding and to continue advocating for the restoration of federal funding for enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act marketplace and Medicaid.
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Shortly after, I welcomed the Center for Nonprofit Excellence and its members from across the Commonwealth; the represented organizations shared insights on their efforts to serve their respective communities and the challenges that are currently facing nonprofit organizations.
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That afternoon, I welcomed an impressive cohort of Virginia Military Institute (VMI) cadets for their advocacy day at the Capitol. Their personal journeys to VMI and their professional goals reflect leadership development and showcase the impact of the institution in helping to build tomorrow's leaders.
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Later that evening, I joined the College of William & Mary, its faculty, staff, Board members, and students for their legislative reception at the Library of Virginia. I commend the College of William & Mary for its recent attainment of status as an R1 research institution.
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On Friday, my office welcomed Fairfax County high school students as a part of their day at Capitol; the students met with General Assembly members and executive offices to learn more about the legislative processes. This student cohort is supported by Senator Stella Pekarsky’s High School Leadership Program.
Connecting With My Office
Reach out to my office:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 804-593-2897
— Ghazala
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