Citizens of all races bought there firearms in a legal manner.Now with a stroke of a pen possibly made illegal..Oppressing and infringement laws are a racist act..The legislators are infringing on rights of different ethnicities, color,culture.The majority of the authors who wrote the bills are white..Some have come from other countries where there rights were oppressed. Now in turn they are the oppressors of American citizens..Citizens are brothers and sisters..And you decide Are the legislators racist in writing these bills..? Sad to see..This will be in record for future generations to see..Let's hope they learn from history and not repeat it .

HB1459: SUPPORT HB1524: OPPOSE, both the VA and US constitutions protect the right to carry any legally owned firearms. Both the VA and US constitutions protect the right to own center-fire rifles, center-fire pistols, and shotguns that accept a magazine of greater than 10 rounds SB27: OPPOSE, this unconstitutionally, unfairly, and unjustly empowers anyone to hold the firearms industry responsible for actions of others outsides of the industry's control. SB38: OPPOSE, the language prohibiting persons under 21 is unconstitutional. The language prohibiting a cohabitant is also unconstitutional. SB86: SUPPORT SB173: OPPOSE, this violates Virginians' constitutional rights. Virginians have the right to carry a firearm for their personal protection anywhere that lacks sufficient security to assume responsibility for the safety of any disarmed persons and that lacks safe storage of firearms carried to and from such location. SB272: OPPOSE, this violates Virginians' constitutional rights. Virginians have the right to carry a firearm for their personal protection anywhere that lacks sufficient security that assumes responsibility for the safety of any disarmed persons and that lacks safe storage of firearms carried to and from such location. SB323: OPPOSE, Virginians should be free to build or customize personally owned firearms without serial numbers. SB337: OPPOSE, this language seems to attempt to legislate based only the current circumstances surrounding national guard deployments in the US. This could hinder an Adjutant General from acting responsibly and prudently under possible future circumstances currently unforeseen.

With respect to HB 1459, I am in favor of this bill. Cooperation with federal authorities shouldn't need to be legislated, but we live in strange times where some people seem to have forgotten we share a country and should be on the same team rather than adversarial to one another.

Why are you discriminating against people of different races and ethnicity. ,? And for a person who is poor? Imposing the bills will make it expensive ,less affordable for someone to purchase a firearm for self defense..

Why discriminate against the constituency whom voted you into office? Vote against the bills..

Firearms were used to free slaves, And self defense..This mantra of self defense carries on ..A hundred years later..You would attempt to limit a constituents right to self defense.. Illegal discrimination ..Do the right thing Vote against the bills..

This critique is true. Will one of you legislators have the courtesy to step out of the groupthink and vote against the gun bills ..? The challenge is to have the guts to do it..Firearms are used for self defense..Freeing citizens from slavery. Sport shooting creates tax revenue and jobs.

The authors of the bills know they cannot ban guns outright..Create hardship bills so a constituent will not want to carry..Delegate, because you possibly do like firearms ..Is it your role ,to treat constituents in a discriminating way..? Against a class of citizens..? Liberals own gun too Not just conservatives..Vote against the bills.

The second amendment is a right not a privilege that can be taken away or will be taken away. Our right or sovereign under the constitution second amendment shall not be in French. Why don’t y’all work on making punishments more harsh for the criminals that rape people moles, children murder, and so on. Instead of trying to make hard-working, taxpaying citizens criminals

Good morning, As a lifelong Virginia resident I can’t believe what bills are even being considered. My name is Chandler Cobb and I currently reside in Isle of Wight County in Smithfield, VA. I’m a Christian, a disabled Veteran, a husband, and I am against any bills that take away our God-given, govt protected, Second Amendment rights. I’ve been a concealed weapons licensee for over 20 years and have never had to fire my weapon in defense of myself or another. That is the story with 99% of Virginian concealed weapons license holders. We also prevent harm without having to fire a single round. The recent Supreme Court precedent set in Bruen and Heller, makes every anti-second amendment bill written UNCONSTITUTIONAL and will eventually be overturned by SCOTUS. Please do not support any bills that take away our rights. These bills will do absolutely nothing nothing to make VA safer and will actually make us less safe. Legal gun owners in this country and this state follow the laws, but criminals don’t care what laws you write banning firearms as they don’t follow laws. These bills only hurt us law abiding concealed weapons license holders and gun owners in VA. Furthermore, there are millions of standard capacity magazines and AR15 sporting rifles and handguns that carry standard capacity magazines. You all are making instant criminals out of not only every Virginian, but anyone driving through our great state. I ask you all to vote NO on EVERY gun bill that infringes on our rights and that’s any bill adding regulations and restrictions on the firearms millions of us own. Thank you and God bless, Chandler Cobb Soli Deo Gloria~ Sic Semper Tyranis~

I stand with the VCDL's position on the firearms related bills. I oppose all Gun Control.

I strongly encourage delegates to OPPPOSE this bill. It's a clear attempt at trolling the committee and is a deeply inappropriately titled bill. It expands access for ICE to jails and prisons and would directly conflict with 287(g) bans. The way this bill was introduced shows flagrant disrespect for the assembly and unseriousness from Zehr. Please table this.

I urge you to oppose HB1459. Federal law enforcement agencies are commiting unconstitutional acts, and Virginian law enforcement must not collaborate with them. 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. In Minnesota, ICE is detaining people who are lawfully present in the United States and sending them to camps in Texas that do not have appropriate conditions for life. Virginia cannot be a part of such human rights violations. My name is Julie Schechter Torres. I am from Falls Church City. Please vote against this bill.

Elizabeth Reyna de Sorto My name is Elizabeth Reyna de Sorto, and I am a resident of Loudoun County. We arrived in this country in 2019. We came together as a family—my children, my husband, and I. From the outset, we settled here in Virginia. My husband and I began working and paying taxes. We also started the process to resolve our immigration status. We obtained our driver’s licenses, and last year we received our work permits under the protection of a U Visa. When we received the U Visa work permit, we felt that our family finally had stability. But sadly, in January of this year, everything changed. My husband was on his way to work when he was stopped in a traffic stop by Leesburg police. He showed his driver’s license and waited patiently. The officer went back to his car and stayed inside until four ICE vehicles arrived. They took my husband without saying anything to him, despite the fact that he had a valid work permit and a valid driver’s license. He was detained for two weeks in ICE custody and then deported to El Salvador. We do not understand why they committed this injustice, leaving me alone with our five children and all the expenses. My husband is the head of our household, and this situation is affecting us economically and psychologically. These are some of the injustices we are suffering. I ask you to approve all the bills that protect our communities from ICE raids in Virginia—especially those that eliminate 287(g) and all the contracts associated with it. Thank you.

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.

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 am a resident of Alexandria HD 5, and I am writing to oppose HB1459. This bill is misleadingly named and does nothing to protect Virginians. Instead, this bill makes us less safe by causing distrust of state and local law enforcement, who would be forced to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement without judicial warrants. Such a bill would make community members, myself included, feel less safe to contact police or other law enforcement due to a fear of causing someone to be deported (the caller, victim, or suspect). This would mean that whenever someone takes someone into custody, even if they are not ultimately charged, they are at risk of being taken by federal immigration authorities. We have seen the administration revoke visas, temporary protective status, and other legal means for people to live in the United States. Many of those taken by immigration authorities are documented and are deported anyway. Regardless of documented status, we see clearly that immigration enforcement is being used indiscriminately to target black and brown members of our community and we cannot provide any assistance to this abhorrent system. We cannot allow this bill to pass and put our community at increased risk of being torn apart by this administration. Vote no on this morally corrupt, intellectually dishonest, and poorly written bill "Ice [sic]-Free Communities Act".

I am writing in strong opposition to HB1459. Over the past months I have been completely horrified by the unconscionable acts committed by immigration officials, in Minnesota and across the country. I have seen my fellow Americans gunned down in the streets. I have seen people being dragged from their homes. I have seen a 5 year old boy used as bait, to lure other family members into the hands of immigration officials. This madness must stop, and it is the responsibility of every elected official to do everything in their power to protect their communities from this violence. It is the responsibility of every elected official to ensure that ICE, DHS and immigration cannot commit any more atrocities on our streets. This bill would facilitate cooperation between immigration officials. If this were to occur, it would place our communities, and community members at even greater risk of their violence and atrocities. I strongly oppose HB1459 and urge the House of Delegates to do the same.

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 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.

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 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.

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 oppose this collaboration of law enforcement with ICE. It will not make our communities safer. ICE has shown itself to be cruel and lawless without respect for the rule of law or human life. To release people into their custody is a violation of the rule of law, of human rights and an attack on our community.

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.

Please support HB650, HB1260, HB1438, HB1440, HB1441, HB1442, and HB1482. Please oppose HB1459. I have taught English to immigrants (both adults and children) here in Roanoke for 15 years. They come from all over the world, speak all different languages, and practice all different religions. They are some of the most grateful, respectful, hard working, generous people I've met. They are a gift and a blessing to my community. All of them want to become legal citizens and contribute to our society. The undocumented ones are here out of desperation and our immigration system makes it impossible for them to be here legally while being safe from the danger of their home countries. I fear for their safety since ICE is unconstitutionally invading people's homes, detaining people without warrants, detaining people who have no criminal record, and have detained legal immigrants and even U.S. citizens. ICE is operating carelessly and irresponsibly. Please protect my immigrant neighbors, students, and friends. Thank you.

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.

This bill is named something completely different from what it could do and I oppose HB1459. Why would VA law enforcement need to cooperate on an ICE/CBP related detention with details of a release, etc. These are different roles and VA law enforcement is not paid to assist DHS law enforcement.

I am in support for 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; restricts face coverings and requires identification of law enforcement; and prohibits state/local law enforcement from entering agreements with federal immigration officers; requires judicial warrants for enforcement of immigration; I oppose HB1459, misleadingly titled "The Ice-free Communities Act". Requires that when VA law enforcement is holding someone in custody and receives an immigration detainer, they must notify ICE/CBP of the date and time of the detainee's expected release.

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.

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 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 oppose the passing of HB1459.

Bills HB650, HB1260, HB1438, HB1440, HB1441, HB1442, and HB1482 have my support and I think they are needed in these times. Courtrooms, schools, places of worship, polling places and hospitals should be safe places for al and free from heavy handed ICE tactics.. I oppose HB1459 -- ICE should not get any help from law-abiding Virginia forces.

I have provided comments supportive of all the bills but would like to clarify that I (like many others) oppose this one. We need our law enforcement free to build trust in the community and focus on public safety. Particularly so long as ICE/BP are acting illegitimately as paramilitary forces without regard for the constitutional rights of every human in the US, it is all the more vital to separate law enforcement institutions and on-the-street activities from those of ICE/BP and other affiliates.

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 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 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 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.

Writing as a concerned Virginia resident and parent. I support passage of any bill that limits or prevents ICE from acting lawlessly as they have been around any protected spaces. Our neighbors, children and communities should be able to safely conduct business and learn without fear of ICE grabbing them, possibly causing long term trauma from over aggressive tactics to settle what is a civil matter. I support HB650, HB1260, HB1438, HB1440, HB1441, HB1442 and HB1482. I oppose HB1459 to work with ICE in any capacity due to their cruelty.

As a concerned resident of Alexandria who cares deeply about my neighbors, 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 strongly oppose HB1459, which forces state and local law enforcement to collaborate with ICE. This would damage public trust in state and local law enforcement.

To Va State Legislators, The Trump regime is terrorizing our communities across the US with brutal Immigration enforcement campaigns designed to test the limits of Executive power and the nation’s willingness to stand up against Trump’s Power grab. Masked federal agents are teargassing babies and pastors, Kidnapping neighbors and shipping them off to what will soon be known as American Concentration Camps. To make matters worse these thugs are Killing innocent people right in front of our own eyes. This is outrageous. This pattern of unchecked violence and abuse by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Border Patrol, and other federal law enforcement agencies must end. And surely these types of operations by such thugs have NO PLACE IN our state of VIRGINIA! As state legislators, YOU can rein in this type of lawlessness and protect Virginians from these types of unconstitutional actions and keep us all safe from these thugs! We support HB650, HB1260, HB1438, HB1440, HB1441, HB1442, and HB1482. These bills above would protect sensitive spaces like cortrooms, schools, places of worship, polling places and hospitals from the intimidation of federal immigration law enforcement officers. Simply put, Passage of these bills will strengthen public trust and improve accountability by restricting the use of facial coverings to obscure identity of members of law enforcement. We oppose HB1459, which forces state and local law enforcement to collaborate with ICE. This would damage public trust in state and local law enforcement. Please work together and vote to Pass HB650, HB1260, HB1438, HB1440, HB1441, HB1442, and HB1482. Keeping our Virginians safe and protected is your number one job! AND OPPOSE HB 1459 to keep us safe and to build public trust in law enforcement! Your constituents, James and Elizabeth Dolan Arlington, Va. 02/04/2026

I am a resident of Virginia state district 39. We have seen our fair share of unidentified, masked men who have harassed and intimidated our citizens. Please move these bills forward. 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.

It is clear to me that the actions of ICE and CBP are not simply aimed at carrying out immigration laws; these federal agencies are rapidly being turned into a paramilitary force whose purposes are intimidation and provocation. Virginians will not tolerate exposure of sensitive paces to their tactics, or collaboration with them by state and local law enforcement. Consequently, I support HB650, HB1260, HB1438, HB1440, HB1441, HB1442, HB1482, and I oppose HB1459.

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

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

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

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

SUPPORT: HB650, HB1260, HB1438, HB1440, HB1441, HB1442, HB1482, HB1492. OPPOSE: HB1459 Our communities deserve protection from the overreach of the federal government by putting boundaries on the activity of federal immigration law enforcement officers. We need to protect sensitive spaces like schools, courtrooms, places of worship, hospitals and polling places from ICE/CBP intimidation. All officers 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 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 these 7 bills that protect sensitive spaces from the intimidation of federal immigration law enforcement officers. This strengthens public trust in VA. I oppose HB1459, which forces state and local law enforcement to collaborate with ICE. This would damage public trust. Thank you.

I believe it is critical to protect Virginians from excessive and brutal immigration enforcement. To that end, 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 and would not serve the interests of the state of Virginia. Thank you for your consideration. Laura Bloodgood

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 do not support face coverings or lack of ID for any 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 all bills EXCEPT HB1459 I OPPOSE HB1459

I am writing this in OPPOSITION to HB1459 submitted by Delegate Eric Zehr. The individuals who are being released have served their time and should not be subjected to further harassment from immigration authorities who, under Trump, have shown time and time again (particularly with their actions against Renee Good and Alex Pretti) they do not care about public safety or rule of law. Countless individuals who pose no threat to the safety of Americans have been trafficked by ICE to countries they have never even been to where they are forced into brutal concentration camps like CECOT. I encourage everyone to oppose this brutal, inhumane bill.

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 oppose these bills as it is the job of law enforcement to uphold the laws of the United States and to protect and serve the citizens of Virginia. Citizens is a key word that is misinterpreted in these bills.

Oppose Why are you creating dangerous situations in Virginia’s communities and cities? It is disgraceful that the leftists care more about getting criminals and illegal criminals on their side rather than protecting law abiding citizens in Virginia. This is a shameful way to get votes ! Where were you when former President Obama deported masses of illegal immigrates? Silent and did not care. What a double standard on the left every time. Please stop causing trouble and harm to our lives.