McAuliffe vetoes bill on detaining undocumented individuals

FILE - In this July 26, 2016 file photo, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe waves on stage at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File) (Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

RICHMOND (WSLS 10) - Governor Terry McAuliffe vetoed a bill regarding the detaining of people suspected of violating federal immigration laws on Friday.

He vetoed House Bill 1468, which he said, "would force state or local authorities to detain individuals longer than necessary if those individuals are suspected of violating federal immigration laws."

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The governor outlined his two concerns about the bill in a news release:

First, this bill is unnecessary. The Commonwealth's law enforcement authorities currently work closely with their Federal counterparts regarding immigrants held in state and local correctional facilities. Imposing the requirements of House Bill 1468 on local sheriffs and jail administrators could inject confusion into this relationship, leading to less effective public safety efforts.

Second, I am concerned about the message this bill conveys. This is just one of a series of anti-immigrant measures which have contributed to contention here in Virginia and nationwide. A year ago, in vetoing House Bill 1468's predecessor, I said, "Rather than stoking irrational fears of non-citizens present in the Commonwealth, the General Assembly should be focused on substantive policies to improve public safety in Virginia." This concern is even more valid today.