Local Delegates Introduce Illegal Immigration Legislation Package

Local Prince William County Delegates introduced a 16-piece legislative package on illegal immigration Tuesday for the current session of the General Assembly in Richmond.

House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) tapped delegates Rich Anderson (R-Prince William), Scott Lingamfelter (R-Prince William) and Jackson Miller (R-Manassas) for their expertise on issues surrounding illegal immigration.

Del. Lingamfelter was appointed to chair the Majority Caucus Task Force – that local delegates are a part of – earlier this year.

Part of the legislation package calls for Virginia to use E-Verify, an Internet-based system that allows businesses, at no charge, to determine if their employees are eligible to work in the United States.

“In addition to facilitating greater use of the E-Verify system by businesses, the illegal immigration legislative package institutes tougher penalties for the manufacture, sale, or transfer of a fictitious birth certificate for the purpose of establishing a false identity,” said a release from Del. Lingamfelter’s office. “Also, the task force made it a priority to crack down on

Del. Anderson introduced HB 1859, the Public Procurement Act, which would require that state agencies include a provision in every contract over $50,000 requiring the contractor to use the E-Verify program for employees who will work under the contract in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Manassas’ Del. Miller introduced HB 1934 which would require the “Superintendent of State Police to perform certain federal immigration law-enforcement functions, such as in a federal 287(g) program;” which currently exists in Prince William County.

In addition, Del. Miller also introduced HB 1914, which would require the “Virginia Employment Commission to use the E-Verify program for each individual it refers to an employer to perform work within the Commonwealth.”

Del. Lingamfelter introduced House Bills 2332, 2333 and 2330. HB 2332 would supplement existing law that sheriffs inquire about the immigration status of a person when taken into physical custody. currently only on a countywide basis in Prince William County.

Del. Lingamfelter’s other two bills would require that in the case of a tied bid preference be given to “goods or services or construction provided by persons, firms or corporations using the E-Verify program for employees who perform work within the Commonwealth.” Meaning that those who use the E-Verify program would to ensure their would get preferential treatment.

HB 2330 would require the Secretary of Public Safety to establish an “information exchange program with states that share a border with Mexico and Canada” in order to share information about international gangs, terrorist organizations or other illegal activities relating to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The bulk of this package will be debated and voted on in the House Courts of Justice Committee.