RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Mayor Danny Avula, his administration and members of Richmond City Council met at the Southside Community Services Center on Monday, Oct. 19 to unveil RVA's Trust Policy, restricting local resources going toward federal immigration enforcement. Part of the six-page policy re leased on Monday reads: "The city shall not enforce federal immigration law." "This is a very, very important step for Richmond," said city councilmember Nicole Jones, referencing the policy, which codifies and limits Richmond city employees' role with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The city, its employees and its law enforcement officers may not request someone's citizenship or immigration status under the Trust Policy with few exceptions. The policy adoption comes as ICE arrests hit the tens of thousands in Virginia. It's important to note that immigration enforcement falls under federal jurisdiction. State and local agencies can only participate in these activities if they have an active 287(g) agreement with ICE, which Avula has previously said Richmond would not enter into. In this way, parts of the Trust Policy serve to more clearly establish these jurisdictional boundaries. "The Trust Policy brings such deep relief and hope," said Carolina Luna, serving as the district 9 president of the Latinx Hispanic Civic Association. "Officers cannot question crime victims or witnesses about their status." Among the Trust Policy's goals is having immigrants and refugees receive city benefits and series without fear of the city sharing their personal information with ICE. Avula spoke at the podium at a Monday press conference, saying "every resident is welcome to access city services and that they can hold us accountable to these commitments." Councilmember Jones explained what motivated city officials to write the police, as officially directed by city council in September. "We were hearing sporadically across the city that ICE was in different parts of the area," she said. "We still kept getting calls about, 'What should we do?' 'How should we engage with city services?' A well-rounded life is more than just getting by. It means taking your kids to school, going to work, seeing a doctor and being part of the life of this city without looking over your shoulder. This Trust Policy brings all three together." Twenty-six-year U.S. Army veteran and African Community Network President Djakaria Konate said immigrants like him face anxiety, and the policy will hopefully strengthen public trust in city leadership and government. "The Trust Policy is well overdue," Konate said. "Hopefully this will lower their fear and anxiety. Make them more productive members of the society." The Richmond city government has published a webpage outlining the policy. Full implementation of the policy is expected by the end of this year, including training on the procedures for more than 4,000 city employees. ...read more read less