AG Jason Miyares – Addressing Virginia’s Legal Issues

Early Returns - Law and Politics with Jan Baran

Attorney General of Virginia and son of an immigrant who fled Fidel Castro’s Cuba, Jason Miyares, has recently announced his campaign for reelection and now talks with Jan Baran about the role of attorney general and the issues facing Virginia.

AG Miyares reveals his journey growing up in Virginia Beach and his path to his current office. He also discusses the pre-election lawsuit by the Department of Justice which unsuccessfully challenged Virginia’s deletion of non-citizens from voter rolls, his advocacy for handling illegal immigration and associated crime, and the failure of state and local agencies to collaborate with federal immigration officials.
About Attorney General Jason Miyares

In November 2021, Jason Miyares (pronounced me-YAR-ez) was elected the 48th Attorney General of Virginia. Prior to this position, Miyares served in the Virginia House of Delegates for three terms, and before that, worked as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Virginia Beach. A product of Virginia public schools, Jason graduated with a Bachelor's in Business Administration from James Madison University and a Juris Doctorate from the College of William and Mary School of Law. As Attorney General, Miyares has been focused on improving public safety, strengthening economic growth, combatting the deadly impact of opioids and fentanyl, and protecting Virginians from corporate misconduct.

Jason Miyares is the first Hispanic American to be elected to a statewide office in Virginia, and the first child of an immigrant to be Attorney General. At the beginning of his administration, Miyares launched Operation Ceasefire, a comprehensive approach to fighting violent crime by focusing on intervention and aggressive prosecution of gun crimes. His office has secured over $1 billion in opioid settlements for drug addiction and recovery from pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors, holding them accountable for their role in the opioid epidemic.

Fighting Human Trafficking has been a top priority for Attorney General Miyares. His office has pushed bipartisan legislation to raise awareness for human trafficking and create new training resources for first year college students and hospitality workers. In addition, Miyares launched “100% Business Alliance Against Trafficking,” a new workforce training initiative for businesses to educate their employees on how to recognize possible trafficking incidents within their business communities.