To: Mark D. Obenshain (VA-26), T. Montgomery "Monty" Mason (VA-1), The Virginia State Senate, and Governor Ralph Northam
Oppose HB 2000 - Don't require VA police to enforce federal immigration law
I oppose Virginia House Bill 2000 because it will likely require Virginia state and local police to enforce federal immigration law, in part, by identifying and detaining local immigrant residents for possible deportation. Virginia already has some of the strictest laws in the nation regarding the enforcement of federal immigration law (including status checks for those arrested and a presumption against bail if a detainer has been placed on an immigrant accused of violent crime). Why should our state and local law enforcement, which already is fully occupied with the responsibilities assigned it by our local governments, bear the burden of enforcing federal law? And why should the citizens of Virginia pay for it? HB 2000 will actually make our communities less safe and interfere with local law enforcement as immigrant crime witnesses and immigrants who ordinarily would offer information to assist our police may actually avoid police contact for fear of questions about their status.
Why is this important?
HB 2000 must be evaluated in light of Section 8 of President Trump's January 25, 2017 Executive Order entitled "Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States." In that Executive Order, President Trump sets forth his plan to "deputize" state and local police officers to perform the functions of federal immigration officials. Section 8(a) of the Executive Order indicates this plan will be accomplished thorough "agreements" with state and local authorities. HB 2000, which will prohibit any "locality" from adopting ordinances, procedures, or policies that restrict the enforcement of federal immigration laws, seems consistent with and could be used in furtherance of the Executive Order. On its own, HB 2000, given its vague and broad language, will likely be used to require state and local police to identify and detain immigrants of uncertain status for possible deportation.
Even if one completely discounts ethical concerns regarding HB2000, it is objectionable on so many other levels. Do we want our local police officers to be an arm of the federal government? Do we want state and local law enforcement, which has the primary goal of protecting Virginia and its local communities, to take on additional responsibilities that will distract it from its mission? Should Virginia citizens pay for the enforcement of federal law by state and local police? Do we want to discourage immigrant residents from cooperating with the police to solve crimes in our communities? I think the answers to these questions is "No!"
Please act quickly as this bill has already passed the VA House & will be before the VA Senate Committee on Local Government for consideration as early as February 14, 2017. If it passes that committee, it will go immediately to the Senate for reading & vote. In addition to signing this petition, please contact your State Senator (directory: http://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator) and Senator William Stanley, the chairmen of the Committee on Local Government ([email protected]; phone: 804-698-7520), to voice your opposition. Moreover, this bill was proposed by Delegate Charles Poindexter - 9th District, who also proposed HB 2001, which many of you opposed and which would have required state professors to aid ICE in identifying students for deportation. Those of you in his district (9th) may want to contact him to voice your opposition to these types of bills, which require state and local employees to undertake the work of federal agencies. ([email protected]; phone 804-698-1009).
VIEW BILL: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?171+ful+HB2000H1