In a Bull Elephant exclusive Senator Dick Black (R-13) has shared with us a bill that the Senator has introduced and will surely be controversial. The bill holds localities responsible for damages if they refuse to enforce the federal immigration laws. The bill is so new it has not yet been assigned a number. The content below,
SENATE BILL NO. __________ HOUSE BILL NO. __________
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-1409.1, relating to sanctuary policies.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 15.2-1409.1 as follows:
§ 15.2-1409.1. Liability of sanctuary cities for certain injuries and damages.
A sanctuary city shall be responsible for the full amount of any personal injury or property damage caused by an illegal alien within such locality.
For purposes of this section, “sanctuary city” means any locality thatadopts any ordinance, procedure, or policy that restricts the enforcement of federal immigration laws to less than the full extent permitted by federal law.
Currently Virginia has the following sanctuary cities and counties for illegal immigrants:
• Alexandria, VA* (Added 10-6-08. Source: City Resolution No. 2246 adopted 10-9-07)
• Arlington, VA (Added 11-3-15. Source: Arlington, VA opts out of federal immigration program, 9-28-2010)
• Fairfax County, VA
• Virginia Beach, VA (Added 6/3/07. Note: The city adopted an administrative directive on 8-1-08 allowing VBPD limited authority to inquire about immigration status. Based on this directive, the city disputes its sanctuary status. Despite the directive, the city has not provided statistical evidence of enforcement to date. )
Today Senator Black told The Bull Elephant,
“If these cities make the decision to ignore the law, they should be held accountable when that negligence hurts the citizens. My bill allows Americans to sue sanctuary cities for damages caused by their defiance of the law.”
Thank you Senator Black for once again protecting the citizens of the Commonwealth!
UPDATE: The bill is SB705 and referred to the Committee on Local Government.
