Policy Update: DC Home Rule threat, Call for Volunteers, Immigration, LGBTQIA2S+, Voting Rights

(Week of Aug. 18-23, 2025) 

• NASW Metro DC Releases Statement Opposing Trump’s “Crime Prevention” Enforcement, Poor Treatment of Undocumented Migrants and Unhoused People

•  Call to Volunteer: DC, NOVA Nonprofits Need Help Serving Targeted Populations of the Federal Law Enforcement Campaign in DC

• Youngkin Activates Virginia National Guard for “Behind-the-Scenes Support” in DC Enforcement Surge

• Virginia Board of Health Will Draft New Regulation Banning Transgender Women from Female Athlete Teams

• Election Officials Vow That Virginia Will Retain Mail-In Ballots, Ballot Boxes Despite Pending Executive Order

DC Home Rule, Immigration, Affordable Housing: In case you missed our email this week, NASW Metro DC released a statement voicing our strong opposition to President Trump’s federalization of DC police and Metro workers, targeting of undocumented migrants, enforcement involvement of 10 federal agencies, and deployment of 800 National Guard members to the District under the dubious pretext that it will decrease crime and homelessness. Like three other Republican-led states, Gov. Glenn Youngkin activated the Virginia National Guard this week for “behind-the-scenes support” of the DC surge that he says will not include street patrols—yet—but may soon carry firearms. Since August 8, immigration officers have arrested 164 people it claims are undocumented, as well as more than 200 other individuals for gun charges, drugs, DUIs, and two assaults. The arrests are highest in majority-Black, low-income Wards 7 and 8. President Trump’s invocation of Section 740 of the Home Rule Act to take control of the District’s police department--and especially the administration’s cruel disregard for the realities of the city’s unhoused population and undocumented migrants--will not end crime, homelessness, or asylum seeking, nor even ensure the sustained “beautification” of DC,” declares the NASW Metro DC Chapter statement. “Our capital is already beautiful, as are our fellow 700,000 residents.” Media reports say Northern Virginia will be among the five next target areas for similar “crime reduction” strategies by the federal government.

Call to Volunteer: Nonprofits serving many of the targeted populations of the DC law enforcement campaign such as undocumented migrants and unhoused people are calling for volunteers and ground coffee donations. Virginia social workers can help respond to callers to the DC Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network's ICE hotline or shop, transport people, deliver food, serve meals, and help nonprofits in DC and Northern Virginia providing aid to people living in fear of leaving their homes.

LGBTQIA2S+: The Virginia State Board of Health voted Monday to draft a new regulation banning transgender women from competing on women’s athletic teams from kindergarten through college. The process, which can take up to two years, resulted from a petition by three female athletes requesting that the board create the new regulation to “prevent biological males from female-only athletics and certain female-designated spaces.” Human rights groups say the decision violates nondiscrimination laws and is an overreach of the board’s authority, which includes writing regulations related to public health such as hospital management.

Voting Rights: Although Virginia has the constitutional authority to choose when, where, and how elections are held, President Trump will soon issue an executive order seeking to ban voting machines and mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Voting rights advocates such as NASW Virginia and NASW oppose those moves, saying they disenfranchise people with disabilities, older adults, rural voters, active military abroad, and others who take advantage of these proven ways to increase voting access and convenience. Trump’s announcement came after he said Russian President Vladimir Putin told him (with no evidence given) that Trump would have won the presidency earlier if mail-in ballots were not allowed. Virginia has 100% hand-marked paper ballots; uses tested, certified voting machines; and bans wireless connectivity in machines in polling places. Election results also are checked three times. 

“Social Workers Are Invaluable Partners in Dementia Caregiving” is an uplifting article in the latest issue of Virginia’s Your Health Magazine.