Despite the vocal movement behind it, most illegal immigration proposals put before the Virginia General Assembly and Senate during this year’s session have failed:
RICHMOND, March 14 — A divided Virginia General Assembly killed most proposals to crack down on illegal immigration during its annual session, despite legislators’ repeated pledges to address the growing population in last fall’s campaign.
Of the 130 immigration bills introduced, only a handful passed before the legislature finished Thursday. The bills that would have penalized illegal immigrants died during the session, a sign that the issue lacks a sense of urgency statewide.
“I think the problem here is that there are not enough localities that are feeling the same pain as exploding localities like Prince William,” said Del. Paul F. Nichols (D-Prince William). “It’s frustrating.”
Bills that passed will deny bail to illegal immigrants charged with a crime, require jails to check the legal status of those taken into custody and prohibit government contractors from hiring illegal immigrants.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), who has often said that immigration policy generally should be left up to the federal government, has signed all three bills.
“Bills dealing with behaviors that threaten public safety ought to be taken very seriously,” Kaine said. “Beyond that, you’ve got to be very careful.”
The number of immigration bills introduced in the two-month legislative session was the highest in recent years. More than 100 originated from the Republican-controlled House, where many were approved before the Democrat-controlled Senate killed them.
Apparently, immigrant bashing isn’t as fashionable in Richmond as it as over at the McCoart Building.
