CJ Workshop: ‘May I See Some Identification, Please?’ Immigrants’ Interactions with State and Local Government in Virginia

This workshop, facilitated by Martha Trujillo and Tim Freilich, members of the CJ Executive Committee, took place on February 9, 2012. Thirty-five community members attended.

The workshop included two separate presentations:

First, Sergeant Sean Hackney of the Albemarle County Police Department discussed Identification Issues During Interactions with Local Law Enforcement. You can read the notes from his presentation and the discussion that followed here.

Second, Tim Freilich, Legal Director of the Legal Aid Justice Center’s Immigrant Advocacy Program, presented an overview of Policies of Particular Interest to Virginia’s immigrants that are being considered by the Virginia General Assembly. You can view his presentation, and you can read the more recently updated VACOLAO Crossover Report (bills that have passed through the House of Representatives and are headed to the State Senate for vote).

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Additional Resources:

VACOLAO, or the Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations, carefully tracks Virginia legislature that will affect Latinos and other immigrants across the state and keeps its members informed on state and national news and reports relevant to the Latino population. You can join their email distribution list, follow them on Facebook, and learn more about the organization and how to get involved on their website. You can also read their 2012 Legislative Agenda and Talking Points.

Richmond Sunlight is a website devoted to educating the public about bills introduced to the Virginia General Assembly each year. You can track the bills of interest to Virginia’s Immigrant population here.

Bills passed into law during the General Assembly each year have a dramatic impact on the day to day lives of Virginia’s residents. If you would like to write or call your State Senator or House of Delegates Representative to request that they support or oppose specific legislation, you can find their contact information on the Virginia General Assembly website.

Lou Hart, local immigrant advocate and community activist, prepared a flyer with talking points regarding policies of interest to Virginia’s immigrants, along with contact information for the Charlottesville area House Representatives and State Senators. You can view the flyer here.

You can find many more resources and ways to stay informed on issues of interest to immigrants on CJ’s Immigrant Rights and Resources page.