Despite Success in Defeating Harmful Legislation, Key Protections for Immigrants’ Health and Housing Remain Unresolved

RICHMOND, VA. – In this current legislative session, CASA, the immigration advocacy powerhouse,  saw both victories and setbacks. While harmful immigration-related bills were blocked, crucial healthcare and housing legislation that CASA, and other organizations have long advocated for, were not passed. Thus some of Virginia’s most vulnerable communities are now without the legislative protections they urgently need.

CASA celebrates the defeat of three anti-immigration-related bills that would have negatively impacted immigrant families across Virginia:

• Senate Bill 1141 (SB 1141), which would have allowed the transfer of noncitizen prisoners to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), was defeated. This bill would have further entangled the criminal justice system with immigration enforcement, putting immigrant families at even greater risk of separation. It could have resulted in more deportations and undermined trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement, making people afraid to report crimes or seek help. It would have also further strained our already overburdened detention system.
• Senate Bill 1268 (SB 1268), was a proposed law that would have required government agencies to check and report the immigration status of people applying for public assistance. Thankfully, the bill did not pass. Had it become law, it could have caused serious harm to public health and safety. Immigrant families might have been afraid to apply for essential services like food assistance, healthcare, and housing because they feared being reported to immigration authorities. This fear would have kept many families from getting the support they need, making their situations worse and leaving vulnerable individuals without help during difficult times.
• Senate Bill 772 (SB 772), which would have required local social services to ask about immigration status when people apply for public assistance, was blocked. This bill would have made it harder for immigrant families to get help, creating fear that they could be reported to immigration authorities. By discouraging people from seeking support, it would have hurt public health, safety, and stability for everyone in Virginia.

“We are relieved that these harmful bills were defeated, thanks to the tireless efforts of advocates and elected officials who stood with immigrant communities, we know that the fight must go on.” said Virginia Director of CASA, Luis Aguilar. 

CASA also extends its appreciation to Senator Perry, Senator Carroll Foy, and Senator Surovell for their steadfast leadership in speaking up against these harmful bills. Their commitment to protecting immigrant families and upholding values of fairness and justice has been firm, and CASA looks forward to continuing to work alongside them to build a more inclusive Virginia.

While the defeat of these xenophobic immigration bills was a major victory, CASA and its members are disappointed by the failure of two priority legislative actions. One is aimed at improving healthcare access for Virginia’s children and the other was a piece of  housing legislation.

The Cover All Kids proposal, aimed at expanding healthcare coverage to all children in Virginia regardless of immigration status, was excluded from the state budget. This decision, made after the proposal failed to gain traction in both the House and Senate budget reports, means that many immigrant children will continue to face barriers to essential health services. As a result, families are left with growing concerns over the well-being of their children under the age of 19, who will remain uninsured due to their immigration status. The decision not to move this initiative forward denies thousands of children access to critical preventative care and puts their health at risk.

“My child deserves the same chance to grow up healthy as any other, but without healthcare, every fever or cough becomes a crisis,” said Viviana V., a Virginia parent and community leader impacted by the exclusion of the Cover All Kids proposal. “We just want to take our kids to the doctor without fear of how we’ll pay for it. This decision forces families like mine to choose between medical care and putting food on the table. But we’re not giving up. We will continue organizing and advocating until every child in Virginia has access to the healthcare they deserve.”

The Anti-Rent Gouging Bill (HB721 and SB1136), which provides that any locality may by ordinance adopt anti-rent gouging provisions, was sent back to committee in the House, which joins the Senate version dying this legislative session. Despite the ongoing housing crisis, the bill has yet to receive a floor vote, leaving tenants without the necessary protections they desperately need. As rents continue to rise, the absence of this bill highlights the urgent need for action to address the housing affordability crisis in Virginia, a concern that remains unresolved for many renters across the state.

“It’s heartbreaking to see the health and well-being of children used as a political bargaining chip, and we’re disappointed that critical housing protections for renters were blocked,” said Aguilar.

“Every month, my rent goes up, but my paycheck stays the same,” said Yanira M., a CASA memberadvocating for housing reform. “Without protections against rent gouging, families like mine are at risk of losing our homes. How much longer do we have to wait for lawmakers to take action? We refuse to stay silent. We will keep fighting for fair housing policies that protect tenants and ensure families can stay in their homes.”

Despite the setbacks, CASA remains resolute in its mission to fight for the health, safety, and rights of all Virginia families. “These recent outcomes are a reminder of the work still to be done. We will continue to push for healthcare for immigrant children, stronger protections for renters, and fight against any measures that discriminate against our communities,” said Eduardo Zelaya, Virginia Organizing Director.

CASA will continue its advocacy efforts, working alongside communities to push for policies that reflect the values of justice, equity, and inclusion for all. 

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With over 173,000 lifetime members across 46 US states, CASA is a national powerhouse organization building power and improving the quality of life in working-class: Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendent, Indigenous, and Immigrant communities. CASA creates change with its power-building model blending human services, community organizing, and advocacy in order to serve the full spectrum of the needs, dreams, and aspirations of members.