Governor Ralph Northam vetoed a bill that would require jails to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when an illegal alien is set to be released.
Current law prevents the jail from holding an illegal alien longer than the locality can for whatever local violation brought the individual to jail. In-order for ICE to bring that individual into custody, ICE would have to have an agent right there at the jail at the time of the release standing at the exit. The bill Northam vetoed would have helped facilitate a smooth transition.
The summary of the vetoed bill, HB 2270-
Requires that the sheriff, jail superintendent, or other official in charge of a local correctional facility or a regional jail in which an alien is incarcerated shall notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the release or discharge of the alien forthwith as soon as the release date is known.
But Northam, and his Democrat friends, are afraid to upset the illegal immigrant community as they rely on votes from non-citizens. Democrats, especially at the national level, have tried to brand ICE as an evil force, which couldn’t be further from the truth.
Northam’s statement on the veto-
Local and regional correctional facilities have, and should retain, discretion to determine how they choose to engage with federal immigration agencies. This legislation impedes decision-making by administrators of these facilities by eliminating that discretion.
Public safety agencies across the Commonwealth have a long tradition of engaging in community policing strategies, and many have recognized how important it is to develop a relationship with immigrant communities in order to keep all of those who live within the locality safe. The safety of our communities requires that all people, whether they are documented or not, feel comfortable, supported and protected by our public safety agencies.
There are many actions we can take to support public safety and keep Virginians safe. Eliminating local discretion and impeding local decision-making are not appropriate options. Were it to become law, this bill would send a clear message to people across the Commonwealth that our public safety agencies are to be feared and avoided rather than trusted and engaged.
When Northam says “This legislation impedes decision-making by administrators of these facilities,” he must mean the bill would prevent those administrators from choosing to allow an illegal alien to walk free. Whether or not to enforce the law is not really a “decision-making” choice for law enforcement personnel.
When Northam says “The safety of our communities requires that all people, whether they are documented or not, feel comfortable,” he must mean that illegal entry, and/or staying past a visa’s expiration, are not enforceable crimes. He wants illegal aliens to “feel comfortable” knowing that their crime won’t be punished.
When Northam says “This bill would send a clear message to people across the Commonwealth that our public safety agencies are to be feared and avoided rather than trusted and engaged,” he must mean that our police is really just for helping old ladies cross the street. Anyone who breaks the law should fear arrest and prosecution and any lawful citizens who need help should trust and engage the police.
Opposing this bill is such a ridiculous way to shelter illegal aliens. And Democrats really are the party that is allowing immigration laws to go unenforced.
This bill passed the General Assembly with only one Democrat voting in favor of it while every Republican (even almost Republican Emmett Hanger) voted for it. The only law makers to vote against it were Democrats. It is unlikely that the General Assembly will be able to override Northam’s veto.
Democrats will make things as hard as possible for the United States to defend our borders and enforce our immigration laws. This is shameful.
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