Legislation of Specific Application to Immigrant Communities by Claire Guthrie Gastañaga, CG2 Consulting

The Center thanks Virginia's leading authority on immigrant-focused legislation, Clair Guthrie Gastañaga for her work on these bills.

Identification Cards and Drivers’ Licenses

HB 287 (Marshall, Danny, R Danville)
Examination of applicants for driver's licenses. This bill is similar to a bill killed last year that would have restricted drivers’ licenses to persons who were fluent in English. As written this year, the bill focuses on the drivers’ license exam and would require that all examinations of applicants for driver's licenses be conducted exclusively in the English language. Use of interpreters in connection with driver's license examinations would be prohibited.

HB 1013 (Hurt, R Chatham)
False identification cards used for establishing Virginia residency; penalty. Punishes the possession, manufacture, etc. of false identification cards with the intent to use same as evidence of Virginia residency as a Class 6 felony. Raises the penalty for possession without such intent from a Class 2 to a Class 1 misdemeanor.

HB 1049 (Reid, R Henrico)
Penalties for possession and manufacture of false identification; penalties.
Increases and makes uniform the penalties for possessing and manufacturing false birth certificates and other forms of identification. Possession of a false birth certificate or other document establishing a false status, occupation, or identity under current law is a Class 1 misdemeanor and remains the same. A new Class 6 felony penalty is added for manufacture of such false documents. Under current law, use of a false birth certificate or other identification to buy a firearm is a Class 6 felony but is raised to a Class 5 felony in this bill. Under current law, it is a Class 2 misdemeanor to possess a false driver's license. This bill raises the penalty to a Class 1 misdemeanor and increases the penalty for manufacture of a false driver's license from a Class 1 misdemeanor to a Class 6 felony.

HB 1163 (Eisenberg, D Arlington)
Unlawful sale of International Driver's License; penalty. This bill would help protect undocumented immigrants who are being exploited by those who sell International Driver’s Licenses falsely representing that they enable one to drive in Virginia legally. The bill would provides that any person who sells or attempts to sell an International Driver's License or any such document purporting to be such with the intent or knowledge that it will be used as a valid driver's license is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also directs DMV to implement a public relations initiative warning and educating individuals about such licenses.

SB 180 (Locke, D Hampton)
Proof of legal presence in the United States. This bill seeks to simplify proof of legal presence by providing that a valid, unexpired driver's license from any other state in the United States shall be deemed proof of legal presence in the United States.

Center Priorities (.pdf)

Bulletin Inserts
Child Support (.pdf)
Environment (.pdf)
Housing Trust (.pdf)
Indigent Defense (.pdf)
Payday Lending (.pdf)
Minimum Wage (.pdf)

Advocacy Resources
Advocacy Guide (.doc)
Advocacy Portal (link)
Lending Info. (.ppt)
Richmond Map (.pdf)

For Small Groups
Eco-Stewardship (link)
Prayers for Creation (link)
Poverty Diet (link)

Policy Briefs
EITC (.doc)
TANF Child Support (.doc)
Payday Loans (.doc)
Healing Creation (.doc)
Child Ombudsman (.doc)
Affordable Housing (.doc)
Indigent Defense (.doc)
Minimum Wage (.doc)
Wage & EITC (.doc)
VA Tribes (.link)

Actions
Lending Petition (link)
Title Petition (link)
Wage Petition (link)

Reports
Budget Analysis (.pdf)
Food Stamps (.doc)
Lottery Study (link)

FAQ's (link)

Your donation helps the Interfaith Center advocate for a more compassionate Commonwealth. Your gifts support trainings, advocacy, community programs, and briefing development. Get involved and begin to Learn Pray and Act with us. Together we can!