Richmond, Va. --Gov. Bob McDonnell yesterday rejected a request by Latino and other organizations that he not go ahead with a proposal to let Virginia State Police pursue civil immigration law-enforcement powers.
Using the Virginia State Police is "a common-sense way for the federal government to partner with the commonwealth to improve public safety," said Stacey Johnson, press secretary to McDonnell.
That is the opposite of what the coalition, VA-SCOPE, contends. The acronym stands for the Virginia Alliance for Sensible Community Policing Efforts.
In a letter yesterday to McDonnell, the coalition said using the state police "would undermine immigrants' trust of law enforcement."
"We are particularly concerned about the severe chilling effect that descends on immigrant communities, and especially on immigrant crime victims and witnesses, if they perceive that law enforcement is to be feared rather than trusted, and the subsequent impact on crime reporting and public safety in Virginia," VA-SCOPE said in a letter to McDonnell.
McDonnell on Aug. 10 asked the Department of Homeland Security for an agreement that would allow troopers to perform functions of federal immigration officers.
The coalition also said Virginia has taken enough steps to make Virginians safe. It is one of only two states that requires an immigration status inquiry of every person taken into custody for a criminal act, the coalition said.
McDonnell said he would want the troopers to pursue only major drug offenses or violent offenses, such as murder, rape, robbery and kidnapping, as well as DUI offenses.
The coalition includes LULAC Virginia, Multi-Cultural Alliance of Virginia, Hispanic Community Dialogue, Tenants and Workers United, Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and Virginia Organizing.
McDonnell wants Homeland Security to enter into a so-called 287g agreement with the state. The agreement is named after a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Seven localities in the state have such a pact.
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