Team Richmond, 

We are a City that is committed to the thriving of all people and places and are taking important steps toward ensuring Richmond remains a safe and welcoming community for all residents.  

Today we are launching the City’s Trust Policy, in alignment with the Thriving and Inclusive Communities Pillar of the Mayoral Action Plan (MAP): 

Thriving and Inclusive Communities protect everyone’s rights — specifically the rights of immigrants, LGBTQ+ residents, other politically targeted groups, and the reproductive rights of women — and work to redress long-standing racial inequities in health and well-being.

Earlier this year, Mayor Avula created the cross-departmental Inclusive Communities Work Group, charging them with identifying practical steps the City could take to strengthen trust and support our immigrant neighbors. This working group includes, among others, teams from the Mayor’s Office, communications, human resources, human services, emergency communications, RFD, and RPD.  

The Trust Policy emerged from that work as a foundational measure. It sets clear expectations for how we safeguard personal information, interact with residents, and use City resources in matters related to civil immigration enforcement. Many months of research from other Cities and local community engagement informed the policy.  

This week, you will receive the Trust Policy in your NEOGOV training profile to review and document your commitment to following this policy. You can access the Trust Policy and other updates from the working group here: go.rva.gov/trust.

Additional guidance, including training, updated standard operating procedures or administrative regulations, and scenario-based support are being developed and will be distributed to ensure you are equipped to respond appropriately in a range of situations. This Policy applies to the Mayor’s Office and departments under the Chief Administrative Officer.  

Community engagement will remain a central part of this process, and this is just the beginning. Residents and community organizations will continue to help shape implementation and identify areas where additional support is needed.  

Thank you for your partnership and professionalism as we move this forward to ensure all residents feel welcomed in our City.