New Order

WOULD DENY COUNTY SERVICES

Virginia community
cracks down on illegals

Prince William gives final OK to illegal immigration crackdown
Associated Press Wednesday, 17 October 2007

MANASSAS, Va. — One of the nation's toughest local crackdowns
on illegal immigration was unanimously approved by Prince William
County lawmakers in a hearing that stretched into the early morning
hours Wednesday.

The measures would deny certain county services to illegal immigrants,
including business licenses, drug counseling, housing assistance and
some services for the elderly. The board also gave police some funding
to help them implement a new policy to check the immigration status
of anyone accused of breaking the law if an officer suspects the person
is an illegal immigrant.

Hundreds of residents and immigrants spoke for and against the measures
in a 12-hour session of emotional testimony. Many immigrants said they
were stunned at the county Board of Supervisors' unanimous vote.

"They didn't hear what people said today," said Manassas resident Juan
Pablo Gomez. "Why did they waste our time?"

Scuffles in the street

There were scuffles in the street between supporters and opponents
of the measures before police separated the two sides as the meeting
began shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday. Nearly 400 people spoke and more
than 1,200 people crowded into the county government center as the
hearing extended past 2 a.m. Wednesday.

The resolution supervisors approved includes new provisions aimed at
concerns over the cost, fairness and public confusion on the issue.
It calls for the county to implement a public education campaign for
immigrant communities and directs the county to partner with a
university or consulting group to study the fairness of the measures.

Republican Supervisor Martin E. Nohe said he was concerned the
measure would invite discrimination.

"We don't want to be the kind of community that even allows the image
that racial profiling is taking place," he said.

Police officials said they would not be conducting immigration sweeps
or setting up checkpoints as some had feared. They said it would take
months to train more than 500 county police officers in the nuances of
federal immigration law.

'Who invited you?'

Supervisors would only commit $325,000 to fund the measures because
of a projected budget shortfall. They postponed the difficult matter of
long-term funding for the plan, which is project to cost $14.2 million over
the next five years.

The intense debate drew scores of Hispanic immigrants as the work day
ended. Some children of immigrants stood on stools and asked board
members not to hurt their parents. One woman ran out of the hearing in
tears, saying the policy would separate her from her daughter.

Proponents of the measure pointed out that illegal immigrants are
breaking the law.

"Where do you get off demanding services, rights and mandatory
citizenship?" said Manassas resident Robert Stephens. "Who invited you?
You cry for your rights? You have none."

Legal experts said the county's policies haven't been tested in court.
A group of 22 plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit against the county in federal
court seeking to block the measures. They claim the measures violate
equal protection laws and that immigration enforcement is a federal matter.

Federal law protects immigrants' access to schools and emergency medical
care and restricts benefits such as Medicare and food stamps.

http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/virginia/dp-dc--illegalimmigratio1017oct17,0,875231,full.story