Higher educational institutions; immigration enforcement. (HB2001)

VACOLAO opposes legislation that puts the burden of federal enforcement agencies on local jurisdictions.
Oppose - requires all board members and staff members of institutions of higher education to take on the roll of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers with no limitations. Explicit in the bill is the mandate to exercise this collusion with the federal government in "campus buildings... non-campus buildings... public property" - thus, everywhere. Instead of educators, professors become immigration enforcers. Instead of environments of learning and exposure to new ideas campuses will become places of fear and threat.

ACLU-VA strongly opposes this bill. University staff and instructors are there to teach, not enforce federal immigration law. The bill is vague as to what university officials should do to "cooperate" with immigration enforcement. Such cooperation could violate federal and state laws meant to protect student's privacy.

ACLU-VA strongly opposes this bill. University staff and instructors are there to teach, not enforce federal immigration law. The bill is vague as to what university officials should do to "cooperate" with immigration enforcement. Such cooperation could violate federal and state laws meant to protect student's privacy.

As a state employee working on a public campus, as well as a citizen (and recent immigrant) who is concerned by the incoming administration's thinking about immigration and threats of deportation, I find this an alarming proposal. As a practical matter, it is not clear what exactly it is asking employees to actually do or what forms of "cooperation" with ICE it is asking of us. Like most instructional faculty, I have trouble seeing how any such cooperation is part of my job.

It also seems as if this proposed bill is designed to target those students who are enrolled on campus as part of the DACA program, students whose eligibility is dependent upon them being in school and law-abiding Americans. Knowing some of these students, I find it very hard to see how the interests of the Commonwealth would be served by requiring employees in educational institutions to assist the federal government to deport them, if that is the intent of this bill.

If you oppose HB 2001, please consider signing the following petition in opposition, which can be found at MoveOn.org and is entitled "Opposition to Virginia House Bill 2001: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/opposition-to-virginia Thank you!

I am a teacher, not a police officer. My job is to enrich the mind of the students in front of me, no matter who they are. My job is to give them a safe environment. My job is to teach. My job is not to betray their trust.

I strongly oppose this bill. University staff and instructors are there to teach, not enforce federal immigration law. The bill is vague as to what university officials should do to "cooperate" with immigration enforcement. Such cooperation could violate federal and state laws meant to protect student's privacy.

I oppose HB2001. It is not the role of education to be immigration agents.

This is a terrible bill that has nothing to do with our work as educators and advisers who support all of our students in their quest for a better future.