Adds citizenship or immigration status as a protected class against discrimination in public accommodations, employment, and other areas, so state and local governments and private actors face more limits on using immigration status as a basis for differential treatment or non-cooperation with ICE.
It is the policy of the Commonwealth to: 1. Safeguard all individuals within the Commonwealth from unlawful discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, or disability in places of public accommodation, including educational institutions and in real estate transactions;
Prohibits discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status in employment, public accommodations, and related practices, limiting how state/local entities and employers can treat individuals differently on that basis.
Conduct that violates any Virginia or federal statute or regulation governing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age, military status, disability, citizenship or immigration status, or national origin is an unlawful discriminatory practice under this chapter.
Why the model tagged it this way: The bill adds 'citizenship or immigration status' throughout the Virginia Human Rights Act as a protected category against discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and related areas. This restricts immigration enforcement by limiting state/local government and private actors' ability to differentiate or refuse services/cooperation based on immigration status, functioning as a sanctuary-style protection. No provisions address firearms, transgender issues, or abortion.
Related bills
HB675Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty.↓Restricts immigration enforcement↑Expands immigration enforcement Law
HB1441Law-enforcement agencies; agreements with federal authority for immigration enforcement.↓Restricts immigration enforcement↓Restricts immigration enforcement Law
SB783Law-enforcement agencies; agreements with federal authority for immigration enforcement.↓Restricts immigration enforcement↓Restricts immigration enforcement Law
HB836Public schools; right to free public elementary and secondary education, discrimination, etc.↓Restricts immigration enforcement↓Restricts immigration enforcement Law