Since the 2016 general election there has been a lot of discussion around immigration policies. Much of the narrative has revolved around a growing number of governments at the State or local level adopting “sanctuary policies”, but for every action there is a reaction.

A backlash against policies of shielding residents who are unlawfully present within a given jurisdiction is developing across the country. The Federal Department of Justice has issued subpoenas to multiple States, counties, and cities across the country that have taken such a stance on immigration since the beginning of 2018. In the case of California, it has go so far as to initiate lawsuits which challenge the constitutionality of the laws it has adopted to this end. These events are widely covered, but in the rush to report on Federal activities the multiple States which are moving in the opposite direction have been largely glossed over.

There are bills advancing through the legislatures of several battleground states which would expressly forbid, sometimes as a felony offense, adoption of policies with conflict with Federal immigration authority.

In Virginia, HB1257 would add a one-sentence law to the books which states “No locality shall adopt any ordinance, procedure, or policy that restricts the enforcement of federal immigration laws to less than the full extent permitted by federal law.” This bill, introduced January 10th of 2018, was passed by the House on February 13th in a 51/49 vote and in the Senate 21/18 on March 6th. It is currently back in the House for final approval.