By Jayla Marie McNeill
Capital News Service
RICHMOND — Immigrant rights groups were outraged after a Senate committee advanced a bill to prohibit localities from restricting federal enforcement of immigration laws.
The Senate Courts of Justice Committee voted 8-6 Monday for SB 1156, which states,“No locality shall adopt any ordinance, procedure, or policy that restricts the enforcement of federal immigration laws.”
Opponents say the measure would require local police officers to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities.
“We feel this bill would create havoc for families and first responders by giving ICE agents free rein to continue inflicting psychological and other cruelties against immigrant communities throughout the commonwealth without accountability,” said Vilma Seymour, the president of the Richmond chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens.
SB 1156, introduced by Sen. Richard Black (R-Loudoun, Prince William) is awaiting a vote this week by the full Senate. To become law, the bill must also pass the House and secure the governor’s signature. Gov. Ralph Northam vetoed a similar bill last year.
According to Black, the bill would not require localities to assist federal immigration law enforcement. However, it would preclude localities from enacting laws that restrict the “traditional” cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
“Throughout law enforcement, there is a sort of customary interaction on all levels,” Black said at Monday’s committee meeting. “Most of these cooperative agreements arise, not out of statute … but local comity between organizations that are concerned about similar things.”
Also present was the Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights, representing 12 organizations that oppose the bill, including the Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations.
Leonina Arismendi Žarkovi? from the Latino coalition offered a prayer before the Senate Courts of Justice Committee.
“Dear Lord … I thank you for every single person in this room speaking power to people that most need it right now,” Žarkovi? began. “I ask you, Lord, to please touch Sen. Black’s heart … Ask him to drop this right now. We know that you have brought every single person to these shores, and we know that you have a plan for each and every one of them.”
“This bill, if it goes forward,” she added, “is going to be a complete stumbling block onto your people. And that is not what I want.”
Black’s bill is viewed as an attempt to prevent “sanctuary cities” in Virginia — localities that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement activities. Some jurisdictions in California, for example, have refused federal requests to detain people for deportation from the U.S.
Proponents of sanctuary cities say they foster good relations between local police and immigrants living illegally in the U.S. Such immigrants often are afraid to report crimes, for instance, if they know local police cooperate with ICE, immigrant rights advocates say.
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