West Virginia Immigration Laws

State and local entities are prohibited from adopting laws, policies, or practices that restrict cooperation with or assistance in the enforcement of federal immigration laws. Law enforcement must comply with immigration detainers.

Law enforcement agencies that take custody of a person subject to an immigration detainer must notify the court, record the detainer in the case file, and comply with detainer requests to the extent required by law.

Effective January 1, 2025, all West Virginia employers with 15 or more employees must enroll in E-Verify and verify the employment eligibility of new hires. Repeated violations can result in permanent suspension of business licenses.

Applicants must show proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status to obtain a West Virginia driver's license or state ID. Undocumented individuals are not eligible. Asylum seekers with valid work permits are eligible.