Bill Text: VA HB262 | 2020 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Immigration status; prohibiting inquiry into status of certain victims or witnesses of crimes.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2020-03-11 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0273) [HB262 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-HB262-Chaptered.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 19.2-11.02 as follows:
§19.2-11.02. Prohibiting inquiry into the immigration status of certain victims or witnesses of crime.
A. No law-enforcement officer, as defined in §9.1-101, shall, in connection with the report, investigation, or prosecution of a criminal violation of state or local law, inquire into the immigration status of any person who (i) reports that he is a victim of the crime or is the parent or guardian of a minor victim of the crime or (ii) is a witness in the investigation of the crime or the parent or guardian of a minor witness to the crime.
B. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a law-enforcement officer from inquiring into the immigration status of the parent or guardian of a minor victim if such parent or guardian has been arrested for, has been charged with, or is being investigated for a crime against the minor victim.
C. Nothing in this section shall affect the enforcement or implementation of §18.2-59, subdivision 10 of §18.2-308.09, or subdivision B 1 of §18.2-308.2:2, or prohibit a law-enforcement officer from inquiring into a person's immigration status to enforce or implement such sections.
