Cuccinelli Weighs in on Immigration
This week Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli issued a controversial opinion on immigration enforcement in the Commonwealth. Craig Carper reports.
Responding to a request for clarification by Republican Delegate Bob Marshall, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli issued the legal opinion that Virginia law enforcement officials can inquire as to the immigration status of those they stop or arrest.
Unlike the controversial Arizona immigration law that was just overruled by federal court, officers are not mandated to do so.
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.
Cuccinelli: You can’t just pull people over for a potential immigration offense; however, our law enforcement do have the ability to inquire about immigration offenses once they have pulled such a person over.
A 2008 law resulting from a similar opinion by then Attorney General Bob McDonnell, requires that anyone in custody on charges of a separate crime have their legal status verified. Cuccinelli’s opinion suggests that law enforcement may do the same for those stopped for a traffic violation or at a DUI checkpoint.
Governor McDonnell said he will soon be meeting with Cuccinelli to discuss the details and implications of the opinion.
Craig Carper, WCVE News, Capitol Square
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