I strongly agree with this letter from the Virginia Young Democrats to Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA10), expressing their “great disappointment” in Subramanyam’s “recent vote to support HR 29” (the “Laken Riley Act”), for the reasons outlined:
- “…we have put our trust in you to do right by your constituents, many of whom would be directly affected and harmed by this bill. Voting for it would be a direct betrayal of that support and trust.”
- “It is a key Democratic tenet to not persecute or judge anyone based on where they come from or what their immigration status is and to see one of our elected officials disregard our principles is a deep betrayal.”
- “The Laken Riley Act exploits one person’s tragic death to put thousands of our family, friends, neighbors, and fellow Virginians in danger of unjust detention and deportation.”
- “While we mourn the death of Laken Riley, we cannot allow this horrific act to falsely paint millions of innocent long-time residents, children, DREAMers and others as criminals.”
- “Specifically, [the Laken Riley Act] would require the government to detain people who have not been convicted or even charged with a crime, potentially sweeping thousands into mandatory detention based solely on accusations with no due process. In America, you are innocent until proven guilty and this does not grant that same grace to immigrants.”
- “HR 29 has no exceptions for children or DACA recipients. It has no exception for people whose alleged offense took place decades ago and in another country, and for which there may be a limited record. It will allow Virginia residents who are arrested for low-level misdemeanors like shoplifting diapers or candy to be held without bond for indefinite periods of time in detention centers, where conditions are often inhumane and it is difficult, if not impossible, to find legal assistance.”
- “This will allow Attorneys General from certain states to cause chaos in the federal courts as the bill provides a blanket standing, regardless of whether a state has any interest whatsoever in the case or policy being challenged.”
- “Our immigrant population is living in constant fear of what these next 4 years will bring. We ask you to look into your heart and ask yourself what if this was your family member, your friend, or your neighbor who was at risk for nothing but allegations alone. Would you say that they deserve it? Or would you fight to keep them in the place that they call home?”
Overall, I’ve got to say, Subramanyam has been unimpressive, to put it mildly (so far, at least) – and, so far at least, a MAJOR downgrade from former Rep. Jennifer Wexton, who was a SUPERB Congresswoman! – on a number of fronts, including his vote on this bill, as well as his apparently happy attendance of Trump’s inauguration. Hopefully, Subramanyam will turn things around quickly, as it’s only been a few weeks and maybe he’s still unsure of his footing? But if this continues, month after month, I’d just say that Subramanyam *barely* won the 2024 Democratic primary for this seat, even *with* then-Rep. Wexton’s endorsement, and that in 2026, there are certainly others who could challenge him for the nomination if he doesn’t shape up, fast.
Virginia Young Democrats Letter on Opposing HR 29 and Protecting Virginia Immigrants
January 21, 2025
Congressman Suhas Subramanyam
119th Congress
US Capitol
Washington, D.C.
The Virginia Young Democrats express their great disappointment to see your recent vote to support HR 29 and with a second vote scheduled for tomorrow, we urge you to reconsider your support. As some of your most loyal supporters and hardest working volunteers in your first election as Delegate, your successful run for State Senate, and your successful bid for Congress this last fall, we have put our trust in you to do right by your constituents, many of whom would be directly affected and harmed by this bill. Voting for it would be a direct betrayal of that support and trust. It is a key Democratic tenet to not persecute or judge anyone based on where they come from or what their immigration status is and to see one of our elected officials disregard our principles is a deep betrayal.
The Laken Riley Act exploits one person’s tragic death to put thousands of our family, friends, neighbors, and fellow Virginians in danger of unjust detention and deportation. While we mourn the death of Laken Riley, we cannot allow this horrific act to falsely paint millions of innocent long-time residents, children, DREAMers and others as criminals. This legislation facetiously expands the detention of people accused of non-violent offenses, without actually improving public safety while encouraging discriminatory and arbitrary overdetention. Specifically, it would require the government to detain people who have not been convicted or even charged with a crime, potentially sweeping thousands into mandatory detention based solely on accusations with no due process. In America, you are innocent until proven guilty and this does not grant that same grace to immigrants.
This bill will not improve public safety, as it will waste law enforcement resources by focusing arrests and detention on people who even Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) thinks are not a threat. Our local, state, and federal resources should not be spent on the mandatory, potentially multi-year detention of a mother accused of stealing diapers or a loaf of bread. Mandatory detention costs taxpayers billions of dollars every year to the enormous benefit of the private prison industry, an industry that you and your former colleagues in the General Assembly took enormous strides to reform during your time in the House of Delegates and State Senate. It will erode the public trust in our law enforcement institutions and create a dangerous environment where actual crimes go unreported.
HR 29 has no exceptions for children or DACA recipients. It has no exception for people whose alleged offense took place decades ago and in another country, and for which there may be a limited record. It will allow Virginia residents who are arrested for low-level misdemeanors like shoplifting diapers or candy to be held without bond for indefinite periods of time in detention centers, where conditions are often inhumane and it is difficult, if not impossible, to find legal assistance.
This bill will also allow states to enact laws that target populations from specific countries and sue the Federal Government for not cooperating with them, even at the expense of other states that do not wish to do the same. This will allow Attorneys General from certain states to cause chaos in the federal courts as the bill provides a blanket standing, regardless of whether a state has any interest whatsoever in the case or policy being challenged. Without the ability to dismiss for lack of standing, the federal courts would immediately be drowning in immigration lawsuits.
The Virginia Young Democrats has had a long standing support for helping our undocumented population in our Commonwealth. We fought hard alongside our allied organizations for Virginia to provide DACA recipients with drivers’ licenses and in-state tuition and you, Congressman, were there with us. In your first session in the House, you voted yes on SB 34 in 2020 to give Driver privilege cards to undocumented immigrants. That same session you voted yes on HB 1547 to grant in-state tuition to anyone regardless of their citizenship or immigration status. And since then, you have always stepped up and represented all your constituents and Virginians, regardless of their citizenship, until voting yes for HR 29 on January 8th.
Congressman, we the undersigned, representing thousands of Democrats under the age of 36 in Virginia, are calling on your better judgment to join all of your fellow colleagues in the Virginia Democratic Delegation to the House of Representatives and Senator Tim Kaine to vote no on the final passage of this bill. Our immigrant population is living in constant fear of what these next 4 years will bring. We ask you to look into your heart and ask yourself what if this was your family member, your friend, or your neighbor who was at risk for nothing but allegations alone. Would you say that they deserve it? Or would you fight to keep them in the place that they call home?
Vote No on HR 29.
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