This week, the Virginia General Assembly advanced two bills to increase state and local cooperation with federal immigration authorities and ban sanctuary policies that impede immigration enforcement in the state. The Virginia General Assembly is one of about a dozen state legislatures this year to tackle sanctuary cities head on with statewide legislation.
Additionally, the Virginia Senate voted 21-19 to pass Senate Bill (SB) 270, which would prohibit localities from enacting any sanctuary ordinance, procedure, or policy that restricts the enforcement of federal immigration law to less than the full extent permitted by federal law. Under SB 270, any locality found to have violated the measure by enacting a sanctuary policy will see a reduction in their state funding. Shortly following the vote, Senate Republicans filed a motion requesting a reconsideration of the bill. SB 270 is expected to be voted on again in the near future.
“This is very simple: We are either voting for rule of law or voting against it,” commented Senator Thomas Garrett (R- 22), sponsor of SB 270. Currently, at least 11 localities in the state have demonstrated records of refusing cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requests.
Virginia is not the only state to advance legislation targeting sanctuary policies this session. The Florida House of Representatives passed HB 675 last week, banning such policies and allowing victims of sanctuary policies to claim damages.