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VA SB351

VA SB351
Courthouses; certain civil arrests prohibited, penalty.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
02/27/2026
Crossed Over
03/14/2026
Passed
03/30/2026
Dead
Vetoed
05/20/2026

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Regular Session

Bill Summary

Prohibiting certain acts in furtherance of federal immigration enforcement in certain protected areas; exceptions; penalties. Prohibits certain federal civil immigration enforcement activities in certain protected areas including any courthouse, within 40 feet of any polling place or building used as a meeting place for the local electoral board while the electoral board meets to ascertain the results of an election, and any place or facility owned by the Commonwealth that is a hospital or other health care facility, a school or public institution of higher education, or an office of the attorney for the Commonwealth. The bill prohibits any civil arrest in a courthouse pursuant to a civil administrative warrant, subject to certain exceptions such as service or enforcement of an order for failure to pay child support or for any arrest occurring in connection with a court proceeding that is taking place or is scheduled to take place. The bill provides that such provisions shall not apply when such arrest is authorized by a judicial warrant or judicial subpoena. The bill also authorizes a local school board to include in its written school crisis, emergency management, and medical emergency response plan a procedure for notifying school board employees and parents of enrolled students of the presence of certain individuals on school property for immigration investigation or enforcement purposes. The bill requires each public institution of higher education to adopt a policy that requires an individual present on campus to investigate compliance with, enforce, or assist in an investigation or enforcement of any federal immigration law to present a valid judicial warrant or judicial subpoena before accessing any nonpublic area of the campus. This bill is identical to HB 650.

AI Summary

This bill prohibits certain federal civil immigration enforcement activities, specifically civil arrests, in protected areas such as courthouses, hospitals, schools (including public institutions of higher education), offices of the Commonwealth's attorney, and within 40 feet of polling places or buildings used by electoral boards during election result ascertainment. A civil arrest is a non-criminal apprehension, often related to administrative matters rather than criminal charges. The bill clarifies that these prohibitions do not apply if the arrest is authorized by a valid judicial warrant or judicial subpoena, or in specific circumstances like enforcing child support orders or arrests related to ongoing court proceedings. Additionally, it allows local school boards to include procedures in their crisis plans for notifying employees and parents about individuals on school property for immigration investigation or enforcement, and requires public higher education institutions to have policies mandating that individuals investigating or enforcing federal immigration laws on campus present a judicial warrant or subpoena before accessing nonpublic areas.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (6)

Last Action

Vetoed by Governor (on 05/20/2026)

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