Daily Caller News Foundation

The Republican State Leadership Committee’s (RSLC) PAC unveiled a new video Tuesday slamming Virginia Democrats for supporting “soft-on-crime” policies that enable counties to decline cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The release of the 45-second video titled “Step Up,” comes ahead of the commonwealth’s Tuesday primary elections. The RSLC, a group working to elect GOP state legislators and conservative state judicial candidates, is seeking to spotlight state Republicans’ support for eliminating sanctuary policies that allow jurisdictions to harbor illegal immigrants, according to a copy of the video obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.

“MS-13 isn’t just a threat you hear about on the news, it’s here in our communities and while Virginia Republicans are fighting to get rid of sanctuary cities, Democrats refuse,” the video’s narrator states. “Virginia Democrats are allowing counties to refuse cooperation with law enforcement.”

“If you commit a crime, you should face consequences,” RSLC PAC communications director Mason DiPalma told the DCNF in a statement. “But Virginia Democrats continue endorsing lenient crime policies that enable dangerous criminals to walk our streets without restraint.”

“While Governor Youngkin and Republicans are dedicated to pursuing justice and enhancing community safety, Richmond Democrats are hindering these efforts, politicizing what should be a collaborative, bipartisan approach to public safety — and it will cost them in November,” DiPalma added.

Republican Virginia gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears has notably dinged her opponent, former Democratic Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger for hosting a campaign rally in April during which Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid spoke. Kincaid notably refuses to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The Earle-Sears campaign alleges that Spanberger campaigned with Kincaid the same day that ICE detained a child predator the sheriff had previously let go.

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More American adults trust Republicans (53%) to handle immigration versus Democrats (47%), according to a June CBS News/YouGov poll.

The RSLC PAC is also criticizing Democratic lawmakers in the Virginia Senate for blocking legislation in 2023 that would have held drug dealers responsible for overdose deaths by charging anyone with felony homicide who sells or distributes certain drugs including fentanyl to individuals that result in the deaths of those persons. The legislation narrowly passed the Virginia House of Delegates, despite 46 Democratic lawmakers voting “no.”

The Republican group and its affiliated PACs announced a $2 million get-out-the-vote effort in Virginia and New Jersey on June 10. The paid canvassing program is part of the RSLC’s strategy to spend early and in the two states hosting competitive gubernatorial and down-ballot races in November and draw attention to Democrats “broken promises” on key issues, including public safety.

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