We all love our cars and the privileges that come with them. They are part of our everyday lives–they help us get to our jobs, run errands, ferry our kids around, and buy groceries. Driving is essential to being a productive member of a family and community. Imagine if you couldn’t drive and couldn’t contribute […]
Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights
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“I want to tell you what it’s like to not be listened to.”
An Immigrant Mother Says “No” to Trump’s Politics of Fear Recently, a woman in Richmond decided to say “no” to the separation of her family. Facing imminent deportation, Abbie Herrera-Arevalo, a mother of two, chose to seek refuge at a local church instead of turning herself over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Last Wednesday, […]
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HB1257 Is An Attack Against Virginia’s Immigrant Community
Richmond— Immigrant justice advocates are disgusted at the Virginia House of Delegates’ approval of HB1257, a bill from Delegate Benjamin Cline that prohibits localities from enacting sanctuary policies. Since Virginia already has laws that forbid sanctuary policies, community members and organizations are speaking out against HB1257 because it attacks immigrant and refugee communities. The Virginia Coalition […]
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House of Delegates Conservative Leadership Is No Friend of the Immigrant Community
RICHMOND— Immigrant justice advocates are condemning conservative members of Virginia’s House of Delegates after legislation important to hardworking residents of the Commonwealth was killed this week. Bills on in-state tuition and driver’s privileges were left to die before the February 13 crossover deadline while a House subcommittee voted to advance anti-sanctuary legislation. The Virginia Coalition for […]
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Immigrant Justice Advocates Denounce Senate Committee For Failing to Pass Driving Privileges Bill
RICHMOND, VA— Despite hearing testimony from DMV Commissioner Rick Holcomb in favor of a bill that grants driving privileges to undocumented Virginians, the Senate Transportation Committee voted along party lines to reject SB621. More than 100 people packed the committee room to support SB621 and were disappointed by the bill’s outcome. Min Su Kang, a youth […]
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Undocumented Students Failed Again After Senate Panel Kills In-State Tuition Bill
RICHMOND— Today, the Senate Education and Health Committee failed to pass bills that would give Virginia’s undocumented students in-state tuition at the state’s public colleges and universities. SB237 and SB810, sponsored by Sen. David Marsden, were killed along party lines in the committee. The Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights (VACIR) is dismayed by the news. […]
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Virginia Immigrant Justice Advocates Call For In-State Tuition And Driving Privileges For Undocumented Virginians
RICHMOND— Members of the Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights (VACIR) state committee held a press conference today to support proposed legislation providing in-state tuition and driving privileges to undocumented Virginians. VACIR’s state committee, a coalition comprised of 16 organizations, is calling on Virginia lawmakers to fall in line with legislators from other states who have created […]