Targeting Juvenile Offenders in Virginia

Juvenilesaccused of committing an adult crime and believed to be undocumented immigrantswould have to be reported to federal immigration officials under a bill passedby a Virginia House of Delegates committee.

Del.John S. “Jack” Reid (R-Henrico), who sponsored House Bill 1046, hassaid that the bill would help enforce immigration law and potentially helpround up gang members who are in the United States illegally.

Opponentsof the measure, which passed the Courts of Justice Committee, said the bill wasdrawn much too broadly because it targets youths who have not been convicted ofa crime.

Thebill, which goes to the House floor, is part of an effort by some members ofthe General Assembly to crack down on undocumented immigration. On Thursday,the House of Delegates gave final passage to a measure that would barundocumented immigrants from Virginia public colleges and another that wouldbar them from receiving in-state tuition. Those bills go to the Senate, wherethey have been defeated in previous years.
Source: Washington Post, Feb. 4, 2006

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