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A6 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 7 January 2020
Sweeping changes expected as Virginia Democrats take control

By ALAN SUDERMAN significant changes.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Democrats want to man-
Democrats in Virginia are date universal background
looking to advance a checks, ban assault weap-
history-making agenda ons and pass a red flag law
when the General Assem- to allow the temporary re-
bly convenes Wednesday moval of guns from some-
that could change how one who is deemed to be
Virginians vote, the type of dangerous to themselves
guns they can buy and the or others.
crimes for which they can Guns became a major is-
be jailed. sue in last year's legislative
Quick action is expected elections after a gunman
on a number of high-pro- killed a dozen people in
file issues that Republicans Virginia Beach in May. A
have thwarted for years in gun-control group backed
what could be the one of by former New York City
the most sweeping legisla- Mayor and 2020 presiden-
tive sessions in decades. tial hopeful Michael Bloom-
"This is a new year in the berg spent heavily to help
Commonwealth of Virgin- Gov. Ralph Northam speaks to members of the media after a press conference at the State Capi- Democrats win a majority.
ia, and a lot of these things tol Monday, Jan. 6, 2020 where he previewed his voting legislative proposals, including removing Ahead of this session, gun-
that we've been talking Lee-Jackson Day as a state holiday and replacing it with election day. rights groups have pledged
about for years are now Associated Press stiff defiance. The Virginia
going to become a reality," Citizens Defense League,
Gov. Ralph Northam said making Virginia the next with Northam, have an op- cautious about claiming a a prominent pro-gun
Friday in announcing plans state to ratify the Equal portunity to pass priorities in broad mandate. He noted group, said it plans to have
for a major overhaul of the Rights Amendment. The a number of areas that Re- that House Republicans "enough citizens armed
state's criminal justice sys- amendment, submitted to publicans have blocked for enjoyed a supermajor- with handguns to take over
tem that includes decrimi- the states in the early 1970s, years. ity when President Barack a modern mid-sized coun-
nalizing marijuana. would ban any discrimina- "The length of the list of Obama was in office and try" at its annual "lobby day"
On Monday, Northam an- tion based on sex. Virginia things for which people just a few thousand votes later this month.
nounced his backing of could be the crucial 38th are expecting action is lon- spread across a handful Other flash points this ses-
legislation to allow no- state to ratify it, though le- ger than I ever remember of districts made the differ- sion could be between lib-
excuse absentee voting gal challenges are almost it being," said Democratic ence in partisan control of eral and moderate Demo-
and to make Election Day certain to follow. Del. Ken Plum, who was first the General Assembly last crats, particularly on busi-
a state holiday. As part of Voter antipathy toward elected in the late 1970s. year. ness-related issues such as
the plan the state would President Donald Trump, "On the one hand it can "Anyone who thinks the Virginia's status as a "right
scrap Lee Jackson Day, a particularly in suburban ar- be overwhelming, on the pendulum can't swing to work" state that blocks
day honoring Confederate eas, has helped dramati- other hand it can be excit- back just as quickly isn't mandatory union fees in
generals. cally reshape the General ing. ... It's going to be a big paying attention," Gilbert workplaces and efforts to
Other Democrat-spon- Assembly since the presi- one." said. put new restrictions on the
sored initiatives involve dent took office. Demo- Republican Del. Todd Gil- Likely the most prominent short-term, high-interest
prohibiting discrimination crats won control of both bert, who is set to be the debate this year will be on loan industry and Dominion
against members of the chambers of the legislature next House minority leader, gun control, an area where Energy, the state's largest
LGBTQ community and last year, and now, along said Democrats should be Democrats have promised electric monopoly.q

Guatemalan seeking asylum sues U.S. to reunite with family

BOSTON (AP) — A Gua- the American Civil Liberties just before crossing the U.S. Spanish-speaking nations, U.S. Customs and Border
temalan woman seeking Union of Massachusetts border in July 2019. including Guatemala, to Protection, which is named
asylum in Massachusetts is said in the suit filed Friday Constanza and the cou- wait out the U.S. immigra- in the suit, declined to
suing the federal govern- in federal court in Boston. ple's two daughters were tion court process in Mex- comment.
ment to reunite with her "The law forbids sending released into the U.S. to ico. The ACLU and other groups
partner and son, who have people to countries where pursue their asylum claim, But while living in Mexico, sued last year in San Fran-
been ordered to remain in they will be persecuted but Morales and their Morales and his son have cisco federal court on be-
Mexico under the Trump or tortured, and provides 9-year-old son were re- survived an attempted kid- half of 11 migrants chal-
administration's asylum migrants with an opportu- turned to Mexico. napping, struggled to find lenging the asylum policy.
process. nity to see an immigration They are among more food and rarely leave their An appeals court panel
The lawsuit filed on behalf judge before they may be than 50,000 people who home because of the vio- heard arguments in the
of Maudy Constanza and sent to a place where they have been sent back to lent and dangerous condi- case in October but has
her partner, Hanz Morales, fear such persecution or the country as a result of tions near the border, ac- yet to rule.
argues the asylum policy torture." President Donald Trump's cording to the ACLU. The ACLU's San Diego
violates constitutional due The civil rights group said Remain in Mexico policy, The organization wants a chapter has also sued the
process and equal protec- the couple fled Guatema- which took effect in Janu- federal judge to declare federal government over
tion rights. la with their three young ary 2019. the asylum policy unlawful the policy, arguing that
"United States law pro- children last year after Mo- Formally known as the Mi- and allow Morales and his asylum-seekers should
tects asylum seekers like rales was shot four times. grant Protection Protocols, son to await the outcome have access to an attor-
Ms. Constanza, Mr. Mo- The family traveled togeth- the policy requires asy- of their case in the U.S. with ney before being returned
rales, and their children," er to Mexico but split up lum seekers from certain the rest of their family. to Mexico to wait.q