I urge you to vote in favor of these bills, all of which have a common interest -- to protect Virginia residents from unconstitutional action by Federal authorities that are charged with protecting the population. The bills are : HB 650, 1260, 1262, 1264, 1265, 1438, 1440, 1441, 1442, 1482, 1492. My family knows a naturalized U.S. citizen from El Salvador who came to the United States because he married a U.S. citizen. He was arrested in Pennsylvania and held for three days, because they thought he might be an undocumented alien based on racial/ethnic profiling. He had to hire a lawyer to get out. Virginia law enforcement must not cooperate with Federal security forces that are carrying out such unconstitutional activities. My name is Julie Schechter Torres. I am a member of Temple Rodef Shalom. Our houses of worship must be safe from activities by law enforcement. Our schools must be safe for children. I know a 9-year-old child who is legally present in the United States but didn't want to go to school for days after ICE went to her ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Children are not a threat. If ICE is focusing on criminals - as they say they are - they are in the wrong place. Going there to capture adults is once again using children as "bait". I have lived in countries where criminals stop cars and kidnap people. There is no way to know that law enforcement authorities are who they say they are if they wear masks and don't show identification. There is no reason someone carrying out legal law enforcement activities should need to hide who they are or what they are doing. Masking is just a means of covering up unlawful action. Please pass these bills to protect Virginians.

I am wanting to write in support of HB 650, HB 1260, HB 1265, HB 1438. These bills would work towards truly and wellbeing of helping the community that lives here within the Commonwealth. The behavior and actions of federal officers are dangerous as they are spreading fear and harm that directly work against the trust and wellbeing of many immigrants and other people of color that are present here. Many of those who are directly impacted as they are less likely to feel safe to contact emergency services for life saving care, going to the store for groceries, taking children to school, going to court for things even like protective orders that could help promote their safety- to just name a few. People deserve the ability to live with dignity and safety and these bills would take the necessary steps to helping promote public safety for all.

I have watched the news and live feeds from Minneapolis, and today I watched testimonies of violations, physical abuse and murder by ICE. It is hard to not see we are in a Constitutional and humanitarian crisis at a scale I never thought could happen here. Please do not bring this to VA. As Virginia is the birthplace of our Constitution, can we make the choice to refuse this standing army, search and seizures? the beatings and destruction of property and disruption of freedom peace and commerce ICE and similar agencies leave in their wake? We are not being protected by them, but living in terror of them. The trust is gone. And, every decent law enforcement officer carries the massive burden of association with these violent, incompetent, sadistic, rogue, racist hypocrites. Ice must be abolished NOW. Humane reform to immigration law, the justice system, detention conditions (including medical care, oversight without notice, access to lawyers without being shipped out, family visits, and provisions for the safety of people who trusted our country as asylum seekers .) As for actual ,violent criminals- we have a system in place and none of this is necessary if we have trust between communities and law enforcement. Ice needs to be scrapped first for something new - for the people, with the consent of the people , to take its place. What are they but roving patrols racial profiling? I am PROUD of our civil rights legacy in our state. We can take a stand and refuse funding and quartering. We should all be able to look to law enforcement as heroes- the people we could call for help. Every act by ICE... The stalking in the streets, the threats to peaceful protestors and Constitutional recorders, and the fear so many goo community members, citizens snd non-citizens live with every day does not even feel like our country. To think we spend this massive amount of money to torment people working hard and doing their best? I'd rather the money go to give a family a shot at the American Dream, instead of paying someone to try to turn guns on them for pay. Our immigrants- They are our heart. They love this country and its promise. They are strong and brave and they work hard and have strong families and faith. They are full of love and share art, culture, dance, music, food and traditions, a love for community many of us can learn from. It is a terrible thing to not embrace and love these people who give so much and ask for so little. I cannot understand how these people are treated like an object to kick, hold down, choke, gun down, jail or murder, without so much as looking at paperwork. Please end this now, for the love of God. If you do not abolish ICE, remove funding and contracts and don't allow masks or lack of badges. Help prosecute when THEY are the violent criminals. But really, get them out and keep them out. Let our own trained police officers handle the crime. Thank you.

I am a resident in the city of Richmond and I demand the restriction and removal of ICE agents from our communities. I support the bills put forth that seek to limit the access and activities of immigration and law enforcement agents. Thank you

My name is Lillian Komarow. I am a resident of District 12. I am submitting this testimony in support of HB 1441, HB 1440, HB 1442, HB 650, HB 1260, HB 1262, HB 1265, HB 1438, HB 1482, and HB 1492. I am also writing in opposition to HB 1459. I grew up in the extremely diverse Northern Virginia area and I know that immigrants are a huge part of what makes Virginia the beautiful melting pot that it is. I know that immigrants have a wide array of reasons to come to Virginia, but ultimately my personal experience has shown me that immigrants want to live and work in peace. They contribute to Virginia in many positive ways economically and culturally– not that that should be a requirement to be treated humanely. Even if I did not have this background, I would know that the terror we are seeing ICE indiscriminately inflict on undocumented immigrants and US citizens alike across the country is abhorrent. It is imperative that Virginia citizens are able to freely access community services without fear of harassment from federal agents. Across the country we are seeing ICE and CBP agents deliberately terrorize families simply trying to take their children to school or to the doctor. There have been stories on the news of domestic violence victims being too afraid of ICE terrorization to show up to their court dates. Ultimately the actions of ICE are deterring people from accessing important services, and this creates ripple effects into the community by making us ALL less safe. Please protect Virginia citizens by passing HB 1440, HB 650, HB 1260, through. The Commonwealth has both the right and the duty to ensure free and fair election for its citizens. Elections cannot be free and fair when people are afraid of being detained at polling places solely due to their appearance. ICE agents’ presence at polling places would be nothing short of voter intimidation. Please protect the sanctity of our elections by passing HB 1442 through. The responsibility of local and state law enforcement should be to protect and serve Virginia citizens, not waste our resources and create mistrust by collaborating with increasingly hostile federal immigration operations. In addition to sapping limited state and local resources, collaboration blurs accountability for racial profiling and other abusive tactics federal agents take, and opens Virginia police departments up to lawsuits. Both law enforcement leaders and crime victim advocacy organizations alike have spoken out against Virginia law enforcement participating in immigration enforcement, citing eroded trust between police and victims, and even described instances of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors being unwilling to seek assistance. Please pass HB 1442 to prevent this mistrust and wasting of resources, as well as HB 1262 so that Virginians can trust that they are not falling into a trap when seeking immigration assistance services, HB 1264 so that Virginia citizens know they have an Accountability Commission keeping watch on federal agents conducting military style operations in the Commonwealth, and HB 1482 so that federal agents can further be held accountable by not concealing their identity. For the purpose of protecting Virginians, our resources, and our right to free and fair elections, I respectfully urge this committee to support HB 1441, HB 1440, HB 1442, HB 650, HB 1260, HB 1262, HB 1265, HB 1438, HB 1482, and HB 1492 and oppose HB 1459.

Dear Virginia House of Delegates, I am writing in support of all bills in this Block 1 subcommittee (HB650; HB1260; HB1262; HB1264; HB1265; HB1438; HB1440; HB1441; HB1442; HB1453; HB1459; HB1482; and HB1492). Each bill has the same underlying principles, in my view, that undergird each one and is worthy of widespread support and consideration. 1) Greater accountability for any abuses of power - something our government is supposedly predicated upon from its foundations of checks and balances. 2) Respect of human dignity - lest we forget another person's humanity and spiral into forms of depravity experienced on widespread scale even within our lifetimes, our parents' lifetimes, or our grandparents' lifetimes, anytime dehumanization becomes the norm and public opinion becomes apathetic we ought to have sirens blaring warning signals. As a conflict prevention and response professional, I have thorough knowledge of human rights abuses at widespread scale at the hands of unchecked power -- the enslavement of Africans and brutality of the chattel slave trade and its legacy of abuses through the Jim Crow Era onward, the forced disappearances of Argentina and Chile, the Holocaust, forced kidnappings and assimilations of First Nations and Native American children at Indian Boarding Schools in Canada and the United States, and more. These bills hold that some places ought to be preserved to honor the humanity in our neighbors, even those who may be undocumented - polling places, courthouses, schools. These bills provide guardrails that Virginia needs to both maintain the humanity of all people, even those who are undocumented. It serves to safeguard the hearts and minds of those citizens and legal residents who have been continuously profiled based on their perceived or actual national origin, and provides more psychological safety for those in our communities who are being targeted from the national stage to local actors dispatched from ICE who have done nothing unlawful. These forcible, unchecked, and brute forces of strength have brought about unnecessary and widespread fear, school absences, medical inattention for fear of being targeted in public, and traumatic experiences for young children and youth. Virginia House of Delegates must provide a healthy check and balance and honor its constituents. Vote in support of these bills. Sincerely, Jena Kitchen

I support this bill and am in favor of the increased safety it will provide for our communities and for my neighbors. I support banning face coverings for federal officers, restricting immigration enforcement officers to 40 feet from polling places, and prohibiting immigration enforcement from schools, hospitals and other above mentioned safe spaces. Limits need to be placed on rogue federal agents, due process upheld and American communities protected.

Any even mildly engaged Virginian ought be alarmed at the slow civil war being carried out on the people of Minneapolis. That is why I fully support HB1264 and HB1482 as critical societal checks on the administration's unfettered military force. Additionally, I support HB650/HB1260 (aren't these the same bill?), HB1265, HB1438, HB1440, and HB1441 for creating safe places and walling off our own government and enforcement agencies from this radical influence. Lastly, steps taken in HB1442 could become extremely important to protecting our democracy as the administration would spiritually invert the Second and Third Enforcement Acts, using the same federal authority that stopped the KKK from harassing black voters in 1870 to instead perform the same kind of intimidation on brown voters in 2026. I oppose HB1459's mandate of cooperation with ICE to snatch untried people out of custody, circumvent the consequences of convicted people by our own justice system, or enact additional punitive measures post incarceration. There is additional alarming language that might imply "going after the families". If state and local PD have a case where they want to cooperate, they already can do so. This bill removes that choice and puts it into a provably untrustworthy institution. I generally support HB1262 and HB1492 for cracking down on bad actors that would take advantage of these troubling times. However, I question the necessity of HB1492: while the long imagined scenario is extremely troubling, we have already seen what evils actual ICE officers are capable of, and how low the bar for entry is. Would this actually help? I mislike HB1453, which goes against our rights as American citizens and good Samaritans to non-violently oppose the actions of federal terrorists.

My name is Yonah Walter. I am a resident of District 10. I am writing in support of bills which enhance public trust in our law enforcement and respect civil rights in our communities. I am a volunteer with the Virginia chapter of Jews United for Justice, but I speak as the great-grandson of immigrants who came as chain migrants with the help of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), and as someone inculcated with strong Jewish values including a bedrock principle of respect for all. The American promise of "liberty and justice for all" was a strong call for my family, but to now hear our government speak so coldly about immigrants - let alone to see how our government has mistreated those they even suspect of being immigrants - has disappointed me greatly. The shooting deaths by ICE of nearly a dozen Americans in just the last few months, and the immoral and self-serving rush by the government to blame the victims in those shootings, demands we act to curb these abuses and keep our government in check. We need accountability from government agents, which includes the right to know who purports to represent us and act on our behalf in law enforcement. We need to protect access to public spaces like courthouses and (perhaps especially) polling places. We need to vigorously protect the right of people to move freely without fear of harassment or assault by law enforcement. We need to restore trust in our government. I respectfully urge this committee to support the following: HB650 HB1260 HB1262 HB1264 HB1265 HB1438 HB1440 HB1441 HB1442 HB1482 HB1492

I support HB650, HB1260, HB1438, HB1440, HB1441, HB1442, and HB1482. These bills protect sensitive spaces such as courtrooms, schools, places of worship, polling places, and hospitals from intimidation by federal immigration enforcement. They strengthen public trust and improve accountability by restricting law enforcement officers from obscuring their identities. I oppose HB1459, which would force state and local law enforcement to collaborate with ICE. This would seriously damage public trust in local law enforcement.

My name is Paula Roney. I am a resident of District 3. I am submitting this testimony in support of HB650, HB1260, HB 1262, HB 1264, HB1265, HB1438, HB1440, HB1441, HB1442, HB1482, and HB1492. These bills would protect sensitive spaces like courtrooms, schools, places of worship, polling places and hospitals from the intimidation of federal immigration law enforcement officers. This would strengthen public trust and improve accountability. As a long time Virginia public school educator, a grandchild of immigrants who came to this country to escape persecution, and a member of Jews United for Justice, I know the importance of welcoming immigrants to our country. I’ve worked with many students who came to the United States, often on their own, to escape harrowing circumstances. It is vital that they, and all other people are able to attend school, receive medical treatment and be able to access the legal system without fear. Therefore it is critical that our Commonwealth protects access to these vital community services. I respectfully urge this committee to support these bills. Thank you.

My name is Susan Kohn. I am a resident of District 15. I am submitting this testimony in support of HB 650,1260, 1262,1264,1265,1438,1440,1441,1453,1492 and in opposition of HB 1459 and 1482. As a pediatrician I am horrified to see my immigrant patients and their families living in fear. I work with children through a non-profit organization that helps to provide access to medical and dental care in Fairfax County. We see hardworking families who are afraid to access health care or even to send their children to school. They worry when someone leaves the house. Will they come back from work, the grocery store, court or school- or be taken by ICE? How can they continue to provide for their children? The children and teens I see were brought to the United States for a better life. Many experienced violence, political upheaval and uncertainty or severe poverty in their countries of origin, which led their parents to seek a place of safety, where they could thrive. My grandparents came to this country in the face of pogroms that terrorized our families in Eastern Europe. They worked hard, as our current immigrants do, to make a future for their children. Our Jewish sacred texts obligate us to care for the stranger and treat all with respect and kindness. They are part of the fabric of a great society. Our neighbors must be able to testify in court if they have been victimized or if they have requested asylum, without the fear of being deported when they show up. All Virginians, whether they are citizens or not, must have the right to access schools, hospitals, places of worship and polling places without fear of intimidation or deportation. All must be able to clearly see the identity of law enforcement personnel and have their day in court with proper representation if accused. Local police should be doing the work of maintaining safety for all residents- not helping ICE deport people without due process. As a Virginian I believe we have a duty to protect those who are most vulnerable in our community. At this time it is our immigrant neighbors who need our help. I respectfully urge this committee to support HB 650, 1260, 1262, 1264, 1265,1438, 1440, 1441,1442, 1453,1492 and oppose HB1459 and HB1482.

My comment refers to all bills on the agenda. The Commonwealth of Virginia must take any and all legal action to prevent ICE from terrorizing any Virginia individual or community. This includes all people who come to this country seeking a better life for themselves and their families, just as the many millions before them have done throughout America’s history.

I am a resident of Virginia House of Delegates District One (Del. Hope). I am submitting this testimony in support of House Bills proposing to de-link Virginia Schools, courthouses, protected areas and polling places from being places of enforcement of federal immigration laws by federal agents. Specifically, HB#1260 (no immigration enforcement in schools), HB-1265 (courthouses), HB-1438 (287g agreements prohibited), HB-1440 (protected areas-hospitals, schools, etc), HB-1441 (law enforcement cooperation only with a valid judicial warrant) and HB-1442 (polling places) My family includes two members born overseas, one came as a political refugee. We are longtime members of Temple Rodef Shalom and we work or volunteer in the service of the immigrant community and basic human rights, including in the legal profession. These bills will protect privacy and basic human rights of immigrants, creating safe spaces so they may continue to dwell in peace in our communities. Public safety is improved if immigrants are not loath to report crimes or to show up for their own legal or immigration required appointments without fear of immediate detention without due legal process, or have their children attend school and continue to advance peacefully in our commonwealth. We have seen in Latin America, Africa and other regions the devastation which governments can cause against their citizens, where the USA has been a beacon of hope. And we have seen the benefit when we welcome immigrants to participate fully in business and communities in our country and state: economic benefits which under the current environment are depressed, as many residents miss work and school and doctor appointments due to widespread dragnet approach to immigration by the federal government. I respectfully urge this committee to support the HBs listed above. Thank you.

We want public safety, not public abductions and executions. We have learned that ICE does not respect rule of law or human rights, so support these bills to keep Virginians safe. Every child deserves an education. Every child deserves to be safe at school. Every sick or injured person deserves medical care. So keep ICE out of our school, hospitals, and courthouses. No judicial warrant should mean no entry- and limit what civil arrests can take place in courthouses. We want police to protect, not persecute. So eliminate 287g agreements in Virginia. Allow our local law enforcement to do their job of keeping communities safe, instead of doing ICE's dirty work for them. We want rule of law, not rule by masked mobs. Do not allow law enforcement to cover their faces. That's not community policing- that's KKK tactics. We want free and fair elections, not a return to Jim Crow era intimidation at the polls. Citizens are not safe from ICE, either. Do not allow the federal government to use "immigration enforcement" as a rouse to silence eligible voters through fear and profiling. Support: HB650 - Callsen HB1260 - Shin HB1262 - Glass HB1264 - Shin HB1265 - Glass HB1438 - Guzman HB1440 - Lopez HB1441 - Lopez HB1442 - Lopez HB1453 - Williams HB1459 - Zehr HB1482 - Schmidt HB1492 - Shin

I’m very concerned with the overreaching of ICE. They have terrorized communities, broken apart families, disrupted children’s education, wrongfully detained people and even murdered American citizens. Please keep all safeguards in place to protect our citizens. Warrants should be in place before they come after people. ICE agents should follow the same laws and training that police officers are required to. ICE should not be allowed to wait outside or enter courthouses. They should not be wearing masks. This is leading to more dangerous escalations as we have seen in Minneapolis. Please vote to protect the rights of our people, maintain a safe community, and honor the laws and Constitution of our once great country. Please listen to your constituents. We are a country of immigrants and we are all humans. Do what is right.

As a long time resident of Virginia, I have watched the horrific attack on our immigrant population by our federal government. I write to encourage support of these bills to provide additional state protections to our local immigrant communities. It is the moral thing to do. Thank you. Stephanie Elms Alexandria VA

I strongly support every bill that limits federal immigration enforcement overreach. Virginia Majority stands in solidarity with immigrant communities across Virginia. We believe that all people, regardless of race, class, or immigration status, deserve to live with dignity, safety, and access to fundamental rights. I support policies that limit federal immigration enforcement overreach, protect access to courts and essential services, and prevent local resources from being used to separate families and criminalize our neighbors. Virginia must lead in protecting immigrant rights by establishing clear boundaries on immigration enforcement activities in our communities, ensuring safe access to schools, healthcare, courthouses, and other essential spaces, and maintaining the trust between local officials and the communities they serve. These policies have my support and are measures that would affirm Virginia’s commitment to being a place where all residents can participate fully in civic life without fear.

I support HB650, HB1260, HB1438, HB1440, HB1441, HB1442, and HB1482. These bills would protect sensitive spaces like courtrooms, schools, places of worship, polling places and hospitals from the intimidation of federal immigration law enforcement officers. This strengthens public trust and improves accountability by restricting the use of facial coverings to obscure identity of members of law enforcement. I oppose HB1459, which forces state and local law enforcement to collaborate with ICE. This would damage public trust in state and local law enforcement.

SUPPORT: HB650, HB1260, HB1438, HB1440, HB1441, HB1442, HB1482, HB1492. OPPOSE: HB1459 Our communities deserve protection from the overreach of the federal government. At a minimum, this means putting strong boundaries on the activity of federal immigration officers and requiring them to follow existing laws and those that are enacted by this general assembly. We need to protect sensitive spaces like schools, courtrooms, places of worship, hospitals and polling places from ICE/CBP intimidation. All officers - including local law enforcement - should be prohibited from wearing masks or face coverings and ID should be required. In addition, local law enforcement should be prohibited from entering agreements with federal immigration officers and judicial warrants for enforcement should be required. Currently our communities are less safe. We need to stop the unchecked abusive activity by ICE/CBP.

I am Kade Keller from Richmond, VA. I write in support of House Bills 1260, 1265, 1438, 1440, 1441, 1442, 1482, and 1492. These policies affirm Virginia’s commitment to being a place where all residents can participate fully in civic life without fear. Virginia must lead in protecting immigrant rights by establishing clear boundaries for immigration enforcement in our communities, ensuring safe access to schools, healthcare, courthouses, and other essential spaces, and maintaining trust between local officials and the communities they serve. All people, regardless of race, class, or immigration status, deserve to live with dignity, safety, and access to fundamental rights.

This is an opportunity for the Commonwealth to respect and protect the riaghts of ALL Virginia citizens. I strongly I support HB650, HB1260, HB1438, HB1440, HB1441, HB1442, and HB1482.

My name is Rachel Waldstein. I am a resident of District #1. I am submitting this testimony in support of the following bills: • HB 650 Callsen Courthouses • HB 1260 Shin Public elementary/secondary schools, etc; federal immigration investigation and enforcement activities • HB 1262 Glass Va Consumer Protection Act • HB 1264 Shin Virginia Accountability Commission • HB 1265 Glass Courthouses • HB 1438 Guzman 287g • HB 1440 Lopez Protected Areas • HB 1441 Lopez 287g • HB 1442 Lopez Polling Place Protections • HB 1482 Schmidt facemasks • HB 1492 Shin Impersonating federal law enforcement officer I oppose the following bills: • HB 1453 Williams Approaching a first responder with specified intent after a warning; penalty • HB 1459 Zehr Ice-Free Communities Act; notification to federal immigration authorities of pending release of certain prisoners from custody I am a member of Congregation Etz Hayim in Arlington and spent a large part of my career representing the U.S. government in the protection of human rights around the world. I support HB 650, 1260, 1262, 1264, 1265, 1438, 1440, 1441, 1442, 1482, and 1492 based on my Jewish values and my life’s work. Jewish tradition and law recognize the equality and dignity of all people and respect their right to life, bodily integrity, health, housing, education, and due process. The Jewish people have been refugees many times in the past and have often experienced mistreatment by authoritarian governments. It is thus my duty to stand in support of marginalized communities and against government abuses. Law enforcement authorities should not deprive anyone--even those in this country illegally--of life, liberty, or property without following established legal procedures that respect their rights. Since the Federal government has abdicated its responsibilities before the law and Constitution, it is up to the States to uphold national and international human rights law. Passing the above listed bills will make our communities to be safer and will give Commonwealth officials a legal basis to push back on Federal law enforcement officials who break the law. I strongly believe HB 650, 1260, 1262, 1264, 1265, 1438, 1440, 1441, 1442, 1482, and 1492 will improve the lives of all Virginians by allowing us to return our focus to strengthening our economy, education and healthcare systems, and by returning a sense of humanity to our Commonwealth. I oppose HB 1453 and 1459, which I believe will create more fear in our communities and impede Virginians’ ability to express their First Amendment rights. I respectfully urge this committee to support HB 650, 1260, 1262, 1264, 1265, 1438, 1440, 1441, 1442, 1482, and 1492 and to oppose HB 1453 and 1459.

I strongly support the following bills and urge the committee members to pass them on so they can make their way to the House in order to be discussed by all the Delegates: HB1492, HB1482, HB1453, HB1442, HB1441, HB1440, HB1438, HB1265, HB1264, HB1262, HB1260, and HB650. These bills provide much needed limits on ICE agents, and life-saving protections for tens of thousands of people in our commonwealth. Please do the right thing and keep these bills alive and moving through our legislative system.

Support HB 650 1260 1262 1264 1265 1438 1440 1441 1442 1482

I write in support of House Bills 1260, 1265, 1438, 1440, 1441, 1442, 1482, and 1492. These policies affirm Virginia’s commitment to being a place where all residents can participate fully in civic life without fear. Virginia must lead in protecting immigrant rights by establishing clear boundaries for immigration enforcement in our communities, ensuring safe access to schools, healthcare, courthouses, and other essential spaces, and maintaining trust between local officials and the communities they serve. We must stand united to protect our immigrant communities from the threats coming from our federal government, as we do with the many other threats and challenges we face from the Trump Administration. All people, regardless of race, class, or immigration status, deserve to live with dignity, safety, and access to fundamental rights.

I support HB650, HB1260, HB1438, HB1440, HB1441, HB1442, and HB1482. These bills would protect sensitive spaces like courtrooms, schools, places of worship, polling places and hospitals from the intimidation of federal immigration law enforcement officers. This strengthens public trust and improves accountability by restricting the use of facial coverings to obscure identity of members of law enforcement. I oppose HB1459, which forces state and local law enforcement to collaborate with ICE. This would damage public trust in state and local law enforcement.

My name is Margaret Power. I have been a voting resident of District 6 for 37 years. I am submitting this testimony in support of most of the bills pending for your action today. I am the great-granddaughter of immigrants escaping poverty, famine, and persecution in their native land and striving to afford the ‘chain migration’ that re-united them with their families. I am the great-niece of German Jews who were denied entry and were murdered in Hitler’s camps. I am the daughter-in-law of an American Jewish woman, who, as a 13-year-old, escaped Poland and crossed a remote stretch of our northern border without documents during the Hitler years when America turned away refugees. I am the grandmother of two talented, bi-lingual and totally adorable Americans who are nearly as brown as their naturalized father, a Colombian-born doctor. I fear their own government will harm them. Or kill them. Truly- I cannot believe that a time has come in which it is not insane for me to have such fears. I belong to Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls church, where, in collaboration with other faith communities, we have long organized sustained support and services for new refugees, predominantly Afghan friends of the US. As Chairman Simon knows, our community actively advocates for inclusive and just public policy here in Richmond and in the nation’s capital. I respectfully urge you to send these bills forward and to advocate for their passage; collectively, they protect Virginians from violent abuses of federal power, they ensure that some of our essential public services- schools, hospitals and the courts- can be accessed by all; they preserve the sovereignty of the Commonwealth with respect to our law enforcement roles, while assuring federal-state-local collaboration with respect to removing criminals from our midst. As a package, they reinforce the rule of law, including protection of our constitutional rights; they reduce the likelihood of violence in our public spaces; they offer our neighbors - and my grandchildren- better protection by requiring federal immigration agents follow the same transparency standards as state and local law enforcement, and they restore some measure of confidence that we citizens are also unlikely to be kidnapped, injured or murdered so long as we are Virginians. I oppose passage of HB 1453, as it limits our right to free expression, and I also oppose HB1459, which is unnecessary because the Governor’s executive order allows federal-state cooperation with respect to convicted criminals, and, if read to add instances in which individuals can be delivered to DHS, would breach the boundaries established by HB 650 which I strongly support. I respectfully urge this subcommittee to support HB#650, HB#1260,HB#1262,HB#1264,HB#1265, HB#1438, B1440,HB1441,HB1442,HB1482, AND HB1492

I support all these bills which, to my reading of them, extend protections of the law to people attending court appointments so that they cannot be detained by immigration enforcement authorities (or people impersonating immigration enforcement authorities). I support requiring law enforcement officials to not wear masks and to have visible identification, and also not to engage in immigration enforcement activities. I also support bills which protect schools, churches, and private workplaces from immigration enforcement activities, and require judicial warrants (warrants signed by a judge) for any immigration enforcement operation. I would like to see bills requiring due process for any persons detained, including but not limited to access to a lawyer, ability to make phone calls, and right to be treated with dignity and humanity.

I fully support every bill that safeguards and protects our immigrant neighbors from the lawless, cruel, immoral and shameful acts committed by federal agents and DHS.

My name is Cindy Denton-Ade . I am a resident of Burke, District 10 . I am submitting testimony in support of bills HB 650, 1260 ,1262 ,1264, 1265,1438,1440,1441,1442,1448,1482,1492. I am a member of Temple B’nai Shalom. All of my Grandparents were immigrants from other counties: the Ukraine, Belarus. If not for the welcoming policies of the United States when they immigrated, they would have been surely been all killed in the Holocaust. My very lovely handyman, who comes from Columbia and is a citizen, was fearful about driving to D.C. Because he felt he would be targeted by ICE. This is not right! Jewish values promote welcoming and protecting the stranger. These bills will go a long way to do just. Virginia, my chosen home, has taken many positive actions since Governor Spanberger has taken office. Let these bills be an addition to actions we can be proud of in protecting immigrants men, women, and children.

HB 650 Clearly seeks to obstruct enforcement of federal law. OPPOSE HB 1260 Clearly seeks to obstruct enforcement of federal law. OPPOSE HB 1264 Clearly seeks to obstruct enforcement of federal law by attempting to intimidate federal law enforcement officers. OPPOSE. HB 1265 Clearly seeks to obstruct enforcement of federal law. OPPOSE HB 1438 Creates division between federal, state, and local law enforcement. Blatantly covers for illegals. OPPOSE HB 1440 Blatantly covers for illegals. OPPOSE HB 1441 Creates division between federal, state, and local law enforcement. Blatantly covers for illegals. OPPOSE HB 1442 If Illegals aren’t supposed to vote, why would this bill be needed? OPPOSE HB 1482 Clearly seeks to obstruct enforcement law enforcement by intimidating them. In some instances, their identity needs to be protected to prevent retribution. OPPOSE HB 1492 This is already a violation of federal law and is unnecessary. See 18 USC SS 912 and SS 913. OPPOSE

Hello, My name is Tyneshia Griffin and I am constituent in Kimberly Pope Adams's District 82. I am in strong support of HB1492, HB482, HB1441, HB1440, HB1438, HB1265, and HB650. These bills are urgently needed to protect immigrant communities and all communities in the state from racially motivated, state-sanctioned, community-based violence being executed by federal agents, local law enforcement affiliating with federal agencies, and citizens who may be motivated to violently target immigrants in the Commonwealth to also stoke fear, shame, panic, and harm on their of their own volition. In my area, ICE has invaded public spaces, kidnapping folks from bus stations for example, making it less safe for members of my community, including myself access transportation, feel safe to move about in our community, and safe free detainment and incarceration. I do not depend on transit solely, but when I need it, it is incredibly helpful for helping me get around the area safely and cheaply. Seniors with no transportation support, folks getting to and from work, students going to school, and folks looking for temporary shelter deserve access to safe public transit, streets, schools, faith centers, workplaces, courthouse, neighborhoods - throughout their entire community. My neighbors and I deserve to be treated with dignity and protected from community-violence and detainment in inhumane jails/camps and these bills provide for that and a failure to pass them fails to complete these responsibilities by leaders and the state. Protect Virginians, protect immigrant communities now.

My name is Karen Menichelli, and I have resided in Arlington, VA, for over 40 years, currently living in House District 1. I have cherished the diverse and welcoming nature of my community and feel enriched by the many immigrants from around the world who have decided to make their lives here. I am worried for my neighbors given the unnecessarily reckless and cruel practices of our federal immigration officers exhibited in cities like Portland, OR, and Minneapolis, WI. I don’t want those behaviors, which sow mistrust and waste resources, brought to Virginia. I want to protect the humanity, dignity, and safety of our immigrant neighbors and allow free access to important community services without fear of harassment or harm from federal agents. Therefore, I strongly support the above indicated cluster of bills under consideration by the Public Safety Subcommittee and urge the subcommittee to champion these bills and send strong versions to the full House for a vote.

My name is Ricki Henschel. I am a resident of District 3. I am submitting this testimony on behalf of Jews United for Justice in support of all of the following bills: HB 650, HB1260, HB1262, HB1264, HB1265, HB1438, HB1440, HB1441, HB1442, HB1482, and HB1492. JUFJ organizes Jewish Virginians and allies in support of local campaigns for social, racial, and economic justice. Judaism teaches that we are all made in the image of God. The Bible is clear that we are to welcome the stranger, as this is mentioned more times than any other obligation in the Bible. The assault on and kidnapping of individuals by ICE, pulled from their cars, their homes, their places of work, as if they were violent criminals, is directly in opposition of Jewish values, and should not be happening in our state. . The vast majority of those arrested are not individuals who have committed any crime, and many are in the process of obtaining legal status. We also know that citizens are also being taken because they fit the profile. The ICE raids and deportation machine are harming people indiscriminately: Parents, children, and students are being swept up as they attend routine immigration check-ins and court hearings, go to work, and run their errands. In my community, children are scared to go to school, and parents are concerned about taking their children to school, including those who with legal status, as the reality is that ICE is sweeping up individuals based on skin color and accents. Asking for papers and documentation and creating a reality where people feel they have to always have their papers on them everywhere they go, is reminiscent of every society that has been overtaken by autocracy. In addition, as an individual who has experienced sexual violence, it is no surprise that many in our community are afraid to go to our courts or access services. Everyone should be able to live with safety and dignity – including going to court without fear. Enabling law enforcement to be masked adds to the trauma being created. In addition, state and local police need to be seen as those protecting our communities, not as part of the federal work of ICE. And most recently, the threat of having ICE at polling places has been introduced. This must not be allowed in Virginia. Many citizens fit ICE’s profile, and they will be harassed and maybe too frightened to go to the polls. This can not be allowed. I respectfully urge this committee to support each of these bills that control the methods and manner in which ICE operates within our borders–HB 650, HB1260, HB1262, HB1264, HB1265, HB1438, HB1440, HB1441, HB1442, HB1482, and HB1492. We have the right to require them to follow our laws and the US Constitution. We must welcome the stranger.

I am a resident of Reston, VA. I am a US Army veteran and Federal retiree with almost 30 years of service to the US. My father’s side of my family immigrated to this country from England sometime in the 1630s. My mother’s side of the family immigrated from Scotland in the late 1750s. To the best of my knowledge, they were undocumented. I believe strongly that I have a right to stay in this country. I have met, heard about, read about, and studied people who have been here longer than my family, and some who have come very recently. If we examine the accomplishments and potential of these folks who arrived before or after my family, none are less deserving of a right to be here. As you study our history and our culture, one realizes that the contributions of immigrants are what makes this country so unique and wonderful. It isn’t how big our Army is, it’s the fact that you can find a taco truck, an Ethiopian restaurant, pottery from Poland, and fashion from France on the same block. It’s in the fact that nearly 100 languages are spoken as mother tongues in Fairfax County Schools. It’s in knowing that this country was built on the backs of African slaves and immigrants from every continent in the world, and the cultures of those immigrants have mixed into the most wonderful stew that we are allowed to enjoy every day. Now, let’s get real. Undocumented people can’t vote, aren’t eligible for benefits, and pay taxes into our system. They work very hard for low wages. Immigrants, much less those who are undocumented, commit crimes at SIGNIFICANTLY lower rates than white men. In short, immigrants are a net gain for our society. The images and stories we are seeing regarding ICE and CBP untrained, unprofessional paramilitary wreaking havoc in Minneapolis is like watching footage from another country. I keep asking myself how we got here, while unfortunately, people of color are saying it has been this way all along. Given that we weren’t aware of the total number of people ICE and CBP killed until they murdered two white people, I am concluding they must be correct. In 2025/26, 40 people have died at the hands of ICE. That is 40 too many. I am in favor of any legislation that hinders the ability of ICE to murder more people regardless of race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, sexual preference, genetic information, immigration status, or whether or not they are exercising their 1st, 2nd, 4th, or 14th Amendment rights. I am in favor of any legislation that allows immigrants a path to citizenship. While a small minority of people may disagree with me, this is NOT a white nation, and I am against any legislation that tries to turn it into one — even if it is couched in pretty language like “protecting our ‘heritage,’ or ‘our women.’” Please pass any legislation that treats our immigrant population in accordance with human rights, human dignity, civic sense, and common decency. Thank you.

(This plea concerns all House and Senate bills that would provide greater protections for our immigrant population and stop government overreach by DHS and ICE.) Letter of Support for Policies Protecting Immigrants Dear Governor Spanberger, Virginia Delegates, and Virginia Senators, As a citizen who sees all humans as treasured and worthy of respect, I ask you, Governor Spanberger and all Virginia delegates and senators, to support all ICE OUT bills, specifically the following bills to benefit the lives of all citizens and provide specific protections for our immigrant community: HB 660 | HB 836 | HB 911 | HB 1161 | HB 1260 | HB 1265 | HB 1438 | HB 1440 | HB 1441 | HB 1442 | HB 1482 | HB 1492 SB 351 | SB 352 | SB 446 | SB 783 | What each of us has witnessed in California, Washington State, Chicago, North Carolina, and Minneapolis to include traumatization of targeted people and onlookers, great injury, and execution style killings must not become business as usual in Virginia. Please regard the humanity in each person across our Commonwealth and support the passage of these bills. Thank you, Mary Lib Morgan 12401 Dutton Road | Apt 2409 | Midlothian, VA 23113 (804) 928-2057

I am writing in strong support of each of the indicated bills that aim to protect immigrants, and those perceived as immigrants, from the threat and violence perpetuated by ICE. As a Social Worker that works across the Central Virginia region, I have seen my neighbors and clients directly harmed by ICE. Families have been torn apart, resulting in physical, psychological, and financial harm. Furthermore, the threat of ICE has prevented communities I care about from safely accessing healthcare, basic needs, public spaces, and even school. These policies would take an important step to protect the rights and livelihoods of all Virginians, and they would affirm our commonwealth's commitment to ensuring its residents have safe and fair access to participating in civic life.

As a longtime Virginia resident and a person of faith, I am alarmed by ICE's and the DHS's recent gross misconduct, including murdering U.S. citizen. Therefore: I support HB650, HB1260, HB1438, HB1440, HB1441, HB1442, and HB1482. These bills would protect sensitive spaces like courtrooms, schools, places of worship, polling places and hospitals from the intimidation of federal immigration law enforcement officers. This strengthens public trust and improves accountability by restricting the use of facial coverings to obscure identity of members of law enforcement. I oppose HB1459, which forces state and local law enforcement to collaborate with ICE. This would damage public trust in state and local law enforcement.

I support any bill that abolishes ICE. We need to go back to a civilized nation. At the moment we are not one. Killing innocent Americans for demonstrating their first amendment rights. We need to stop rounding up people for the color of their skin. This is not a Wild West rodeo. Our government has violated numerous constitutional laws by not doing lawful procedures. We promised after the concentration camps where Japanese citizens were detained that America would not do that again. Again America has broken its promise to its citizens. They are removing people who are not criminals and people seeking a better life. Some as they appear for court hearings that they needed to do to become citizens. Let’s go back to a civilized country and start respecting both law and order and stop quotas on human beings. You are helping Americans and the world lose any respect left for America and its government. The three murders that gunned down Renee Good and Alex Pretti had YEARS on the CBP or ICE before those killings. It was like watching a firing squad executing people for no reason. Just being around people that were trigger happy and had no training from years ago. I have watched children have guns held up to their faces. CHILDREN. You are taught to never draw your weapon as a fear tactic or a control technique. It’s common knowledge. Let’s make real immigration laws that help people become American. These immigrants pay more into our treasury than Trump did for three years only paying $750 each year. Or Amazon that paid no taxes. The immigrants contribute to our country and economy unlike billionaires and corporations. Actually we have subsidized Elon more than any taxes he has paid. He has caused more harm to America and Americans safety than any immigrant. Stop this funding of this illegal under trained private police that is not protecting Americans but killing them. I question how anyone who supports this can even say they are Christian. From the brutality of humans in detention, lack of medical care, food that I would only put in my compost bin, to breaking up families, the abuse and murder I have seen and the rounding up by skin color. You do know Jesus was a dark skin Palestinian don’t you? So guess he would be rounded up if he was around today. I have never been so ashamed to be an American and I’m 72 years old. But I know it wasn’t me that made the decisions it was you. That gives me some peace. Find your soul, remember again why we were given the statue of liberty or let’s donate it to a country worthy of that beacon of light. We are distinguishing its significance. I hope you also were able to see the monks marching for peace. They are true humans with love and kindness to all. I am grateful to see so many people touched by them and their journey. In solidarity, Cindy Johnston

Please vote in favor of protecting our immigrants from ICE harm!

I am a long time citizen of Henrico and I am horrified at what is happening with ICE and border patrol in my country now. I hardly recognize this country or the Republican party any more. I am asking all of my reps to do whatever you can to defund ICE and to make them take their masks off, to get much better training and to have signed warrants whenever they are looking for specific people. Finally they should not be allowed to go in schools or houses of worship. Thankyou.

I SUPPORT all bills EXCEPT HB1459 I OPPOSE HB1459

Bills: HB1265 (Glass) and HB650 (Callsen) Position: SUPPORT Courthouses must function as neutral, accessible spaces where individuals can participate in legal proceedings without fear of unrelated civil enforcement actions. HB1265 and HB650 are essential to preserving access to justice and due process in the Commonwealth by prohibiting civil arrests in courthouses and establishing enforceable protections. Legal and empirical research demonstrates that the threat of civil arrest—particularly immigration enforcement—in or around courthouses has a documented chilling effect on court participation. Individuals who fear arrest are less likely to appear for hearings, serve as witnesses, comply with court orders, or seek protective relief, undermining both due process and judicial efficiency (Eagly, 2019; Kohli et al., 2011). In Virginia, these impacts are especially acute in General District and Juvenile & Domestic Relations Courts, where survivors seek protective orders, parents appear in custody matters, and tenants and workers pursue basic legal remedies. When individuals avoid court out of fear, cases are delayed or dismissed, warrants may issue for failure to appear, and victims and witnesses are effectively silenced. This does not enhance public safety—it weakens it. Virginia’s court system depends on voluntary participation to function effectively. Research shows that enforcement activity in civic spaces erodes trust in legal institutions and reduces cooperation with courts and law enforcement, particularly in immigrant communities (Eagly, 2019). This erosion directly conflicts with the Commonwealth’s interest in efficient case resolution and community safety. Importantly, prohibiting civil arrests in courthouses does not prevent lawful enforcement elsewhere. Instead, it draws a clear boundary that protects the integrity of court proceedings. Jurisdictions that separate civil enforcement from courthouse activity report improved court appearance rates and increased willingness of victims and witnesses to engage with the justice system (Kohli et al., 2011). HB1265 and HB650 reinforce courthouse neutrality, strengthen due process, and support public safety by ensuring that access to justice is not conditioned on a person’s immigration status or vulnerability to civil enforcement. I respectfully urge the committee to report both bills favorably and protect our neighbors here in Virginia. Eagly, I. V. (2019). Immigration enforcement and access to justice. UCLA Law Review, 66, 100–170. Kohli, A., Markowitz, P. L., & Chavez, L. (2011). Secure Communities by the numbers: An analysis of demographics and due process. Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute on Law and Social Policy.

The Justice and Witness Action Network – Virginia of the United Church of Christ supports HB1265. As people of faith, we are deeply disturbed by the abuse of basic human rights and the constitutional violations being perpetrated in our communities by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. ICE is terrorizing our immigrant population, the vast majority of whom are NOT criminals. The way arrests are being carried out creates an atmosphere of distrust between residents and local law enforcement officials. Targeting of individuals at courthouses is especially egregious, because if immigrants fear that showing up in court may result in detention and possible deportation, our justice system itself becomes compromised. People are afraid to show up for routine legal hearings. Victims are afraid to report crimes, witnesses won’t show up to testify – leading to further erosion of public safety and creation of a climate of fear that destabilizes our entire community. Our courthouses should be safe spaces that are off limits to ICE. We urge you to vote yes on HB1265 to protect everyone’s access to Virginia’s judicial system.

I strongly support all the proposed legislation for protecting my neighbors and community, providing civil causes of action, placing a 9/1/26 termination date on existing local ICE agreements. We should not be using our tax dollars and other resources to assist a law-breaking federal government that is pardoning drug traffickers, killing and detaining legal residents and citizens, and promising protection for its agents who violate our Constitutional rights. Thank you.

I write in support of House Bills 1260, 1265, 1438, 1440, 1441, 1442, and 1482. In combination, these bills form a framework to protect civil liberties, reinforce the integrity of public institutions, and clearly define the appropriate scope of law enforcement authority in Virginia. These bills ensure that schools, courthouses, polling places, and other civic spaces remain accessible and safe; that individuals can participate in education, the justice system, and elections without fear or intimidation; and that enforcement actions are transparent, accountable, and grounded in judicial authorization. Collectively, they strengthen public trust by drawing clear boundaries between state and federal roles, prioritizing due process, and strengthening public safety by upholding constitutional rights.

The Virginia State Conference supports HB 650 HB 221 HB 1265