Sanctuary policies; enforcement of federal immigration laws. (HB1257)

Introduced By

Del. Ben Cline (R-Amherst) with support from co-patrons Del. Dickie Bell (R-Staunton), Del. Mark Cole (R-Fredericksburg), Del. Matt Fariss (R-Rustburg), Del. Tim Hugo (R-Centreville), and Del. Danny Marshall (R-Danville)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Sanctuary policies prohibited. Provides that no locality shall adopt any ordinance, procedure, or policy that restricts the enforcement of federal immigration laws to less than the full extent permitted by federal law. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/10/2018Committee
01/10/2018Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18102897D
01/10/2018Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
01/24/2018Impact statement from DHCD (HB1257)
01/30/2018Assigned Courts sub: Subcommittee #1
02/07/2018Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments (5-Y 3-N)
02/09/2018Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment (9-Y 8-N) (see vote tally)
02/10/2018Read first time
02/12/2018Engrossed by House as amended HB1257E (50-Y 49-N)
02/12/2018Read second time
02/12/2018Committee amendment agreed to
02/12/2018Engrossed by House as amended (50-Y 49-N) HB1257E
02/12/2018VOTE: ENGROSSMENT (50-Y 49-N) (see vote tally)
02/12/2018Printed as engrossed 18102897D-E
02/13/2018Read third time and defeated by House (50-Y 50-N)
02/13/2018VOTE: DEFEATED (50-Y 50-N) (see vote tally)
02/13/2018Reconsideration of defeated action agreed to by House (52-Y 48-N)
02/13/2018VOTE: RECONSIDER (52-Y 48-N) (see vote tally)
02/13/2018Passed House (51-Y 49-N)
02/13/2018VOTE: PASSAGE #2 (51-Y 49-N) (see vote tally)
02/14/2018Constitutional reading dispensed
02/14/2018Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
02/19/2018Rereferred to General Laws and Technology
02/19/2018Rereferred from Courts of Justice (13-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/19/2018Rereferred to Local Government
02/27/2018Reported from Local Government with amendment (7-Y 6-N) (see vote tally)
03/01/2018Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/02/2018Passed by for the day
03/05/2018Passed by for the day
03/06/2018Read third time
03/06/2018Reading of amendment waived
03/06/2018Committee amendment agreed to
03/06/2018Engrossed by Senate as amended
03/06/2018Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 18-N) (see vote tally)
03/07/2018Placed on Calendar
03/07/2018Senate amendment agreed to by House (51-Y 47-N)
03/07/2018VOTE: ADOPTION (51-Y 47-N) (see vote tally)
03/09/2018Enrolled
03/09/2018Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1257ER)
03/09/2018Signed by Speaker
03/10/2018Signed by President
03/20/2018Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 20, 2018
03/20/2018G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, April 9, 2018
04/09/2018G Vetoed by Governor
04/18/2018House sustained Governor's veto (51-Y 48-N)
04/18/201866 affirmative votes to override Governor's veto
04/18/2018VOTE: OVERRIDE GOVERNOR'S VETO (51-Y 48-N)

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 1 clip in all, totaling 33 minutes.

Comments

ACLU-VA Immigrants Rights, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

The ACLU of Virginia strongly opposes this legislation that would impose an unfunded mandate on localities to provide resources to the federal government to carry out its enforcement of the nation's broken immigration laws, and prohibit localities from adopting policies that enhance the safety of our communities by creating positive relationships with foreign born Virginians and immigrant communities.

Phil Storey writes:

This bill is a horrible policy for so many reasons. Even assuming the bill is not motivated by prejudice, it is exceedingly bad public policy, tying the hands of localities that need to be able to identify and address policy priorities based on actual community needs. The bill would effectively require that immigration enforcement be the #1 priority of all local government in Virginia, without exception. That would mean that no other priorities--no matter how important or urgent--can take precedence over local enforcement of immigration law. It means there can be no public health emergency, no disaster, no public safety issue that a locality can prioritize over the local enforcement of immigration law. It would mean, for example, that local police departments could never assure victims or witnesses that reporting crimes will not result in an immigration investigation or deportation by ICE. This would make our communities much less safe for all.

Rob Waters writes:

This bill has failed on the floor with a 50-50 vote.

Rob Waters writes:

And on a second vote, requested by Helsel, it passed.

Great job, considering how many immigrant contribute to VA's economy.