(SB351)

GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto Senate Bill 351, which would create unavoidable legal liability for security personnel and local law enforcement officers when assessing federal immigration enforcement activities in certain protected areas.

As a former law enforcement officer, I share many Virginians' concerns regarding the dangerous and unchecked federal immigration enforcement actions we have seen across the country. I take seriously how these actions have eroded years of trust built by law enforcement officers within the communities they serve.

I appreciate the goal and intended purpose of this bill, but in practice, this legislation would not achieve the intended goals. It would effectively require security guards and, in some cases, local law enforcement be placed in the untenable position of choosing between violating state law or federal law, rendering this proposal unworkable.

Despite these legal issues, I understand that some people feel signing this bill would send an important signal that in Virginia, we want immigrant families to be able to attend to their personal business at courthouses or schools without fear of immigration action. I appreciate that intention. However, communicating that immigrant families are protected from immigration action in places they are not by virtue of federal law would put families at risk.

I provided amendments that sought to make this legislation legally workable and clear, but unfortunately, these amendments were rejected by the General Assembly.

I look forward to continuing to work with the General Assembly on this issue. Additionally, my Executive Order 16 directs state entities, public institutions, and agencies across the Commonwealth to develop guidelines to help ensure individuals encountering federal immigration enforcement in these locations are equipped with clear protocols and best practices.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.