Mexicans Without Borders and many other organization and individuals, have denounced the 40 plus bills being voted on in the General Assembly which target immigrants. The goal of this legislation is to force immigrants who are unauthorized to leave the state of Virginia.
As you know, Virginia is presently undergoing the most aggressive anti-immigrant campaign in its history. Preceded by a series of initiatives and ordinances with intent to criminalize immigration and justify repression, the arrest and deportation of immigrants in a number of cities and counties, and a number of brutal raids against scores of workers and their families, the situation has fueled waves of terror in the immigrant community.
As a response we organize the Immigrant Journey For Justice & Dignity that include a Fast, a March, a Religious Vigil and talks with Legislators.
At the end of Virginia Assambly sessions on February 24, 2007, most of those antiimigrant bill’s was rejected.
These are the original list of bills that was introduced:
HB1618
Immigration laws; Governor to enter into agreement with federal Immigration, et al regarding.
HB1656
Interpreters; fee for non-English-speaking defendants.
HB1673
Immigration, Commission on; created, report.
HB1827
Human Anti-Trafficking Act; created, report.
HB1906
Unfair employment practices; discharging employees when unauthorized aliens are employed.
HB1918
Illegal aliens; presence unlawful in State, penalty.
HB1921
Extortion; withholding immigration document.
HB1961
In-state tuition rates; prohibited for certain individuals.
HB1970
Immigrants; it is unlawful to be in Virginia if in United States illegally.
HB2111
Interpreters; fee for non-English-speaking defendants.
HB2169
Tuition, In-state; illegal aliens not eligible.
HB2261
Zoning violations; overcrowding of residential dwellings.
HB2264
Extortion; withholding immigration document.
HB2322
Illegal immigrant; admission to bail.
HB2328
Illegal immigrants; document verification for employment of, penalty.
HB2435
Immigrants; status in order to obtain domicile in State.
HB2448
Security and Immigration Compliance Act; public bodies, etc. who intend to contract to register, etc.
HB2471
Identification cards: renewal, duplication, or re-issuance thereof doesn't require proof of residence.
HB2551
Human Anti-Trafficking Act; created, report.
HB2605
Illegal immigrants; document verification for employment of, penalty.
HB2622
Illegal alien; person who harbors, etc. guilty of felony.
HB2623
Tuition, in-state; illegal aliens not eligible
HB2629
Matrícula Consular cards; not to be relied upon as evidence that individual is State resident.
HB2687
Unfair employment practices; discharging employees when unauthorized aliens are employed.
HB2688
Workers' compensation; benefits paid to unauthorized aliens.
HB2806
Commissioners of revenue, local; duties and powers.
HB2826
Security and Immigration Compliance Act; public bodies, etc. who intend to contract to register, etc.
HB2924
Extortion; withholding immigration document.
HB2926
Immigration; powers of law-enforcement officers as immigration agents
HB2930
Business and state licenses, local; denied or suspended if business employs unlawful workers.
HB2931
Immigration status; cooperation with federal officials regarding.
HB2932
Public school; proof of immigration status or actual citizenship to enroll, report..
HB2933
Immigration laws; Governor to enter into agreement with federal Immigration, et al regarding.
HB2934
Immigrants; requirement of lawful status for state determination of legal domicile.
HB2935
Tuition, in-state; illegal aliens not eligible
HB2936
Illegal aliens; law-enforcement officers have authority to enforce U. S. immigration laws.
HB2937
Certain aliens; eligibility of for state and local public benefits.
HB2943
Misdemeanor cases; law-enforcement officer may issue summons or arrest person.
HB3006
Investigation following conviction for criminal street gang activity
HB3096 Interpreter s for non-English speakers
HB3130 refusal to grant and revocation of business licenses
HJ687 Joint subcommittee to study Human trafficking
HJ776 Joint subcommittee to study impact of undocumented immigrants
SB815
Human Anti-Trafficking Act; created.
SB1027
Extortion; withholding immigration document.
SB1045
Immigration; powers of law-enforcement officers as immigration agents
SB1118
BPOL tax; refusal to grant and revocation of business licenses.
SB1192
Interpreters for non-English-speaking persons.
SB1204
In-state tuition rates; prohibited for certain individuals.
SB1227
Extortion; withholding immigration document.
These six bills have passed both houses & will go to the governor who can still amend or veto them:
HB1921 & SB815 , making it a misdemeanor to use immigration status or documentation to extort a person.
HB1673 , which establishes a commission to study and make policy recommendations (this bill we considered negative in the beginning based on the proposed membership; the membership was changed to be balanced and there is hope it can produce some positive impact)
HB2261, this would increase fines for violation of overcrowding in single-family rental units, but makes clear that jail time can not be imposed and that enforcement must be in compliance with fair housing laws (attempting to undercut any disparate or biased enforcement). Although it does not mention immigrants on its face, it is clear that this bill was filed to address many Latinos’ practice which is for many unrelated persons to share rental housing.
SB1192 , giving the option to judges to make non-English speaking criminal defendants to pay for the interpreter costs (for that particular day), if they fail to show up & they are found guilty
SB1204, which is Hanger’s bill denying in-state tuition for undocumented, but in its original for allowing some who met certain conditions (like having filed for immigration status, having graduated from Virginia, paid taxes, etc.) to receive in-state tuition. At this time, the house passed the bill but without the language allowing the special category to have access to tuition. The bill will go into conference to see it an agreement can be worked out.
( This information was provited for Virginia Poverty Law Center )
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