NORFOLK, Va. — Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed 22 bills he says would "weaken criminal penalties" and "undermine public safety."
The legislation — passed by the Democratic-controlled Virginia House of Delegates and Senate — varies from House Bill 972, which would prohibit immigration status inquiries of defendants during trials, to Senate Bill 69, which would allow people granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status to serve as law enforcement officers.
"We have a duty to protect the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia from harm," Youngkin wrote in a news release. "I vetoed 22 bills: which protect illegal immigrants, or impede law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judges from holding criminals accountable and bringing them to justice."
The vetoes are unlikely to be overturned since Democrats lack the two-thirds votes necessary in both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly.
For House Bill 972, Youngkin argued in a veto statement that immigration status is relevant information for the courts to determine how to handle a case, including "whether or not the defendant is a flight risk."
Another bill Youngkin vetoed was Senate Bill 449, which would grant parole eligibility to people who committed crimes as a juvenile.
"This proposal fails to limit the severity of crimes committed by the offender as a juvenile before becoming eligible for parole," Youngkin wrote in his veto statement. "To provide context, under this proposal, a murderer convicted at age sixteen could be released as early as age thirty-four. The Department of Corrections and the Parole Board estimate that approximately five hundred inmates would become eligible for parole."
For Senate Bill 69, Youngkin wrote that the bill would allow non-citizens who aren't permanent residents and aren't eligible to become citizens to become law enforcement officers.
"As noted by supporters of the legislation, the Department of Criminal Justice Service can currently offer waivers for noncitizens who are permanent residents to serve as law enforcement officers on a case-by-case basis," Youngkin wrote.
Alongside the vetoes, Youngkin signed 36 bills into law and offered amendments to two bills. One of the pieces of legislation signed was House Bill 688, which permanently allows businesses to offer cocktails to-go.
The full list of bills that Youngkin vetoed and signed can be found on the governor's website.
