Lt. governor praises Gov. Youngkin's veto of bills, including one that would allow illegal immigrants to be police officers

RICHMOND, VA - According to Fox Business, Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Friday vetoed several measures, 22 in all, passed by the Virginia legislature, including one that would mirror a California law that allows illegal aliens to become law enforcement officers.

The vetoes were praised by Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears, also a Republican. 

Sears, a rising star in the Republican Party, also credited Younkin for vetoing a bill that he said would “weaken criminal penalties," with Sears telling Fox Business that Virginia residents must be protected from the negative repercussions of the Biden-created crisis at the southern border. 

Sears slammed Biden and his administration for turning states like Virginia and other interior states into virtual border states and, therefore, as susceptible to the border crisis in states such as Texas, New Mexico, and others. 

“Here’s the situation–we just have all become border states, and by the way, you notice that those states that claim to be…sanctuary states, sanctuary cities–suddenly they’re backing away from it when they realize that no, actually, Texas is not going to bear the burden of all of the folks coming across the border illegally, you’re going to have to share some of your pain,” Sears told “The Big Money Show” on Fox Business. 

She further noted that the governor’s vetoes were about “the protection of the residents of Virginia” and to ensure that individuals coming into Virginia and the rest of the country from other nations “mean us well and not ill.” 

Sears, who emigrated from Jamaica, said she had to go through the same processes that all those who seek to come to the United States should as well. 

“I had to go through that process. When I joined the Marine Corps, I was actually a Green Card holder,” she said. “But I swore to uphold, protect, and defend the Constitution of our great United States.” 

Youngkin issued a statement in which he noted that the bills he vetoed “protect illegal immigrants or impede law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judges from holding criminals accountable and bringing them to justice.” 

“Some of these people–said that you could simply become a law enforcement officer. Excuse me, we don’t even know who you are,” said Sears. “We don’t know your intentions. You could have good intentions, but we don’t know that.” 

Sears said none of the legislation deep-sixed by Younkin made any sense. 

She also took time out to slam an initiative championed by Youngkin that would have relocated the NBA’s Washington Wizards and NHL’s Washington Capitals out of crime-riddled Washington, DC, and across the Potomac to Alexandria, Virginia, adjacent to Reagan-Washington National Airport, that was throttled by Virginia legislature. 

The move was also championed by Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Democrat Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson. 

In February, Virginia’s State Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee blocked an appropriation to create a $2 billion entertainment district in Potomac Yards. 

Sears remained optimistic that the plans would eventually be approved and noted that the project would have had an estimated $12 billion, 30,000-job impact on the Commonwealth of Virginia. Youngkin is exploring other avenues in an attempt to move the plan forward. 

“We’ve got to have, as we like to say, ‘Peace in the Valley’ and everybody singing “Kumbaya,” because this is for the good of Virginia,” Sears said.