In sync with President Trumps push to persecute refugees and immigrants, the Virginia General Assembly has had a number of bills introduced that do not represent what America stands for nor are they in the best interest of the citizens of Virginia. The majority of these bills increase the burden of running day to day services for the state. The burden of work is increased for entities providing immigration or refugee services, education, and just general contracting with government entities.

I urge you to find out who your legislatures are (http://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/) and get in touch telling them that these laws are not in the interest of Virginia.

Below are my letters outlining my objections to HB 1468, HB 1723, HB 2000, HB 2001, HB 2002, HB 2236, and SB 1262.

America’s morals and responsibility to take in those who are escaping war or are trying to make a better life are parts of what I believe make America great. I feel that discrimination and additional laws against refugees or immigrants, illegal or not, are unnecessary and our existing laws are well in place to punish those who intend to harm our citizens, community or country.

I urge you to not support HB 1468 as it applies a double standard of justice which America cannot stand for. Justice is a right of all people and if a person is within our borders they will experience the same justice everyone else does. HB 1468 introduces a broad stroke burden and strain upon the families and law enforcement who face incarceration. If a person is not an immediate threat to our safety they shouldn’t burden our justice system any more than anyone else.

I urge you to not support HB 1723 as it is unnecessary to track individuals movement outside of the current systems that exist. If an entity within the state enters an agreement to settle some refugees, Virginia doesn’t need to have a “refugee list” that is updated prior to settlement agreements being executed. This increases the burden of the government and those most affected by the refugee status. This slows down organizations ability to help these people who are most vulnerable.

I urge you to not support HB 2000 as it increases the burden to do work within the state with the state and is ridiculous to write a law that chains our state’s freedom and self governance to a minimum standard held by the federal government. Virginia doesn’t need laws that remind us what the federal law is. What a waste of time.

I urge you to not support HB 2001. The law places unnecessary burden on the education system to perform law enforcement. Furthermore the law casts a cloud of suspicion where none is needed. The education of those seeking to better themselves is in the interest of America and our institutions are not a place for a dark cloud of suspicion but enlightenment and promise.

I urge you to not support HB 2002. The law places an unnecessary burden on the entities who are trying their best to help immigrants and refugees find a better life. The immigrants and refugees are already cleared by the federal government. The law is made to create red tape and excessive state mechanism to disrupt these important services. I urge you not to support systems requiring the registry of individuals age, gender, and national origin of each individual. They are not in the interest of America.

I urge you to not support HB 2236. In this time of change, it is important to not to bludgeon localities found to violate the law nor is it necessary to chain our law to that of the federal system. First the language of the law is despicable to take away funding to a locality just because they are found to violate the law. Note that it doesn’t include willful or not just found in violation. The law is designed to hurt localities that fail to enforce immigration laws which of course will be localities with immigrants. The law is designed to reduce services which will cause unnecessary stress and harm to the members of the locality and is sinister in its attempt to drive people away. It is an awful law that is in no way representative of American values.

I urge you to not support any of the following: HB 1468, HB 1723, HB 2000, HB 2001, HB 2002, and HB 2236.

Re: SB 1262

I live in Charlottesville VA and am alarmed at the rate of anti-immigration bills being introduced into the Virginia state legislature. Having a locality be libel for an illegal immigrant’s actions via VA SB1262 is just disguised discrimination and intimidation. There are already plenty of laws in place to address illegal activity regardless of a persons immigration status. I urge you to vote, debate and take a stand against VA SB1262 and other proposals in its vein.