A proposal designed to increase the deportation of illegal immigrants in Virginia is going to require considerable new spending, key General Assembly members said Tuesday.
Local law enforcement officials throughout Virginia would be required to start deportation proceedings against illegal immigrants in their custody under a proposal the State Crime Commission will present to legislators later this year.
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Virginia, however, is facing a $641 million revenue shortfall this year, which could imperil any proposals that need new revenue. The deportation plan would require additional funds to hire personnel to supervise the detained aliens, for example.
Commission members don’t have a cost estimate yet but plan to develop funding options later this year.
“It’s going to cost money, there’s no way to avoid that,” said Del. David Albo, R-Springfield, the commission’s co-chairman.
If the commission’s proposal becomes law, it would replace a hodgepodge of local ordinances governing how illegal immigrants are treated. Loudoun and Prince William counties, for example, have recently enacted similar deportation requirements for their police departments while other Northern Virginia jurisdictions have not.
“There has to be a statewide policy for what we’re going to do,” said Sen. Ken Stolle, R-Virginia Beach, also a co-chairman. “Someone should know the same thing is going to happen to them whether they are in Grundy, Virginia Beach or Fairfax.”
Only illegal immigrants who are arrested would be subject to deportation. The proposal would not apply to minor violations such as running a stop sign but would apply to crimes such as drunken driving or driving without a license.
The crime commission plans to meet in September and October to discuss the deportation plan and other immigration-related issues. There also will be an opportunity for the public to comment. Commission members plan to vote on formal recommendations after the October meeting.
Gov. Tim Kaine does not support requiring the localities to detain illegal immigrants and begin the deportation process by notifying the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency of the aliens’ presence. He prefers the status quo, which allows jurisdictions to make their own decisions.
“The governor does not object to localities choosing to enter into localized agreements with ICE,” gubernatorial spokesman Kevin Hall said.
