Unearthed: Abigail Spanberger’s “Horrifying” Take on Border Enforcement Ignites Fury

Washington, D.C. – October 18, 2025 – A resurfaced video of Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger has exploded across social media, thrusting her into a maelstrom of criticism just weeks before Election Day. In the clip, unearthed by RNC Research, Spanberger decries it as “horrifying” that under President Donald Trump’s administration, crossing the U.S. border illegally is “considered a criminal act.” The remark, delivered during a recent policy interview with The Mercury, has conservatives branding her an “open borders radical” and even some moderates questioning her grasp of federal law, amplifying a national debate on immigration that dominated the 2024 presidential race.

The video, which has garnered over 5 million views on X since its October 17 release, captures Spanberger in a candid discussion on Virginia’s immigration policies. Responding to questions about Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Executive Order 47—which empowers state police to assist in federal deportations—she pivots to federal enforcement. “The really horrifying thing is… under the Trump administration, where every cross into the United States is considered a criminal act,” she says, her tone laced with disbelief. Spanberger, a former CIA officer and three-term congresswoman who flipped Virginia’s 7th District blue in 2018, appears to imply that Trump’s policies invented this criminality, ignoring that illegal entry has been a misdemeanor under 8 U.S.C. § 1325 since the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. Reentry after deportation, moreover, is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Spanberger’s comments stem from her broader critique of what she calls “overzealous” enforcement. In the interview, she vows to rescind Youngkin’s order on her first day as governor, arguing it fosters “fear” among immigrant communities and diverts resources from violent crime. “Virginia’s not a border state, but these policies ripple here,” she explains, highlighting sanctuary city debates in Northern Virginia. Her stance aligns with progressive Democrats like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who have pushed for decriminalizing border crossings as part of comprehensive reform. Spanberger frames it through a humanitarian lens: migrants fleeing violence in Central America shouldn’t face “criminalization” upon arrival. Yet, her phrasing—suggesting the act’s criminal status is a Trump-era novelty—has drawn swift backlash for what critics call historical ignorance or deliberate misrepresentation.

Republicans pounced immediately. Virginia GOP nominee Winsome Earle-Sears tweeted: “Abigail Spanberger thinks enforcing our laws is ‘horrifying’? Tell that to the victims of crimes by illegal immigrants.” The National Republican Senatorial Committee amplified the clip, tying it to Trump’s border wall legacy and Biden-era surges, where over 10 million encounters were recorded since 2021. On Fox News, host Sean Hannity labeled Spanberger “out of touch with working Virginians,” noting polls showing 60% of state voters prioritize border security. Even centrist outlets like The Washington Post ran fact-checks, confirming illegal entry’s long-standing criminality and quoting legal experts: “It’s not Trump who made it a crime; it’s Congress, decades ago.”

The unearthed video underscores Spanberger’s tightrope walk in a purple state. Elected in 2018 on a moderate platform—flipping a district Trump won by 4 points—she’s touted her intelligence background to appeal to security hawks. But as governor, facing a red-leaning legislature, her immigration views risk alienating suburban moms and law enforcement unions. Supporters defend her, arguing context matters: the “horrifying” label targets Trump’s “zero tolerance” family separations in 2018, which courts ruled inhumane. “She’s highlighting policy cruelty, not denying laws,” a campaign aide told reporters. Spanberger herself addressed the uproar in a statement: “My words were about the human cost of rigid enforcement, not the law itself. We need smart reform, not scare tactics.”

Social media has turned the clip into a meme frenzy, with #HorrifyingSpanberger trending alongside edited videos juxtaposing her quote with cartel violence footage. Late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel quipped: “Spanberger’s horrified by laws? Next, she’ll say jaywalking’s a crime.” Polling shifts are already evident: a Roanoke College survey post-video shows Earle-Sears gaining 3 points, narrowing the race to 2% among likely voters.

This controversy revives immigration as Virginia’s flashpoint, echoing national divides. Trump’s 2024 win hinged on border fears, with 52% of voters citing it as decisive. For Spanberger, the gaffe could doom her bid, exposing a progressive underbelly in a moderate facade. As attacks ads flood airwaves—”Abigail’s Horror: Open Borders for Virginia”—the unearthed words serve as a stark reminder: in politics, one offhand remark can unearth a candidate’s vulnerabilities, turning a policy debate into a personal reckoning. With ballots dropping soon, Spanberger’s “horrifying” vision of enforcement may haunt her at the polls, proving that what’s buried in old interviews rarely stays that way.