The Virginia House of Delegates passed two bills targeting illegal immigrants by wide margins on Monday — one that would bar undocumented students from entering public college and another that would push the governor to grant police immigration enforcement powers.
Neither, however, appears to have much of a chance for survival in the Senate, which historically has been a graveyard for such legislation and this year came under control of a Democratic majority even less inclined to consider the measures.
The House voted 73-26 to approve a bill, sponsored by Del. Chris Peace, R-Hanover, barring anyone not legally present in the United States from admission into any of the commonwealth’s 15 public universities or 23 community colleges.
Some of those schools already bar illegal immigrant students, while others charge them out-of-state tuition.
Peace said exactly how to carry out the checks “will have to be addressed by each college.”
While Peace said the large number of House Democrats supporting the bill points to its bipartisan support, immigration advocates don’t expect the measure to make it out of committee in the Senate.
“I think it’s highly unlikely it’s going to survive in the Senate,” said John Steinbach of Mexicans Without Borders. “If it does, I believe the governor is going to veto it.”
The second bill, which passed 88-11, would make it the “responsibility of the governor” to partner with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement for the 287(g) program, which would allow state law enforcement to undertake some initial deportation steps for criminal illegal aliens.
The program is integral to illegal-immigration crackdowns started by some Northern Virginia localities, and many supporters want it extended to state police.
The bill’s scope is disputed, however. Lobbyist Claire Guthrie Gastanaga, said its language simply covers existing law.
“All they’ve done is restate the fact that the governor has the authority” to enter 287(g), she said. “They know they can’t force him to do it.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
