Prince William County officials pass resolution that requires their Police to ask suspected illegal immigrants of their immigration status

**Terminator** · 07-12-07, 09:02 AM

Prince William County officials voted unanimously last night to move forward with one of the toughest immigration policies in the country.
The eight-member Board of County Supervisors passed a resolution that requires police officers to ask about immigration status in all arrests if there is probable cause to believe that a suspect has violated federal immigration law. The resolution also requires county staff to verify a person's legal status before providing certain public services.
Board Chairman Corey A. Stewart, at-large Republican, commended his colleagues for "stepping up to the plate" and taking action on immigration enforcement when the federal government has failed to do so.
"We're going to do what we can," he said prior to the vote, which came after nearly four hours of impassioned testimony from people for and against the tough policies. "We know this is a federal issue, but I think the citizens have a right to expect that their local government and the state government are going to do whatever they can to address the problem."
The resolution, introduced last month by Supervisor John T. Stirrup Jr., Gainesville Republican, was amended before the meeting yesterday to clarify the circumstances under which county staff -- including police -- should ask about immigration status.
The resolution calls for the police department to establish standards of probable cause and methods by which officers can determine lawful presence, then report back to the board within 60 days.
"It gives us time to figure out some more of the details," county Police Chief Charlie T. Deane said.
The original resolution required officers to ask about immigration status in all arrests, "regardless of the person's national origin, ethnicity or race."
resolution also was amended to allow the board to clarify which public services the county can deny illegal aliens. The resolution asks County Executive Craig S. Gerhart to schedule a work session with the board within 90 days to help identify three categories of public services: those mandated by federal or state law, regardless of immigration status; those prohibited by federal or state law to illegal aliens; and those for which the county might have the discretion to deny illegal aliens.
The resolution is not designed to deny "emergency medical care or any other public benefits mandated by federal or state law."
Language also was added to the resolution to recognize the benefit of legal immigration, "one of the very bedrock principles upon which our thriving society is built."
Mr. Stirrup said he was "disturbed" by comments from some of the 115 people who spoke during the public comment period, characterizing the resolution as "anti-immigration."
"In no way, shape or form is that what this is designed for," he said. "This is about the rule of law. Unfortunately, that seems to have been lost in some of the press reports over the past few weeks. I have emphasized that. It's what our American civilization is all about. We're doing this directly in response to our community which has called repeatedly -- repeatedly -- for us to do something."
Mr. Stirrup said he introduced the resolution in response to accusations that the county employs so-called "sanctuary policies" protecting illegal aliens -- something county officials vehemently deny.
"Prince William County is not now, nor has it ever been, a 'sanctuary' for illegal immigration," Chief Deane said in his address to the board.
He did caution supervisors against acting too rashly and warned of unintended consequences, including an end to community policing, perceptions of racism and racial profiling, increased crime among youth and higher taxes to fund the greater administrative costs.
"We must strike a balance in our policy," Chief Deane said. "It must be the right balance or we will polarize the community and create more problems than we solve."
The county population increased from roughly 281,000 in 2000 to 347,000 in 2005, census figures show. And the Hispanic population nearly doubled during that period, from roughly 9.7 percent to roughly 18 percent.
Board chambers were filled to capacity, and hundreds more sat in overflow seats in the lobby, watching the meeting on large-screen televisions.
The crowd grew impassioned at times, despite repeated warnings from Mr. Stewart to refrain from cheering, jeering, applause or other outbursts.
John Garcia of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund said he stood outside with "hundreds and hundreds of Latinos" who joined in during the invocation and recited the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the meeting.
"Those are the people you're targeting," said Mr. Garcia, who opposed the resolution.
Other speakers include members of faith-based groups and members of Help Save Manassas, whose mission is to reduce the influx of illegal aliens in Prince William County.
Group President Greg Letiecq encouraged supervisors to pass the resolution.
"No more -- no more tolerance for criminal illegal aliens who commit assault and battery, stalking, indecent exposure, driving while intoxicated or hit-and-run because these crimes aren't supposedly serious enough to warrant even notifying the immigration authorities," he said. "No more protection for illegal aliens who attempt to obtain taxpayer-funded services, which they are not entitled to receive in order to make their continued unlawful presence in the county more comfortable. No more selective enforcement of our laws in order to make it easier for vast numbers of illegal aliens to maintain in our midst."
Other speakers denounced the resolution as "racist" and "xenophobic" and urged supervisors to reconsider.

**PCSD722** · 07-12-07, 09:31 AM

If this were to end up being something that all agencies do it may wake up the government that the citizens are finally fed up with the illegals problem and maybe they will start working toward an answer. One problem would be, if a lot of agencies would do this is...what would we do with the people who are illegal? There is not enough room in most jails to keep them until immigration shows up, and at some point there wont be enough immigration officials to come and get them all....although I dont see it getting to the point where all agencies are doing it anytime soon.

**Ianl6** · 07-12-07, 09:36 AM

I would say this is a great idea as those who are in your country legaly have got nothing to worry about those who are illegaly there deserve to be thrown back to there country of origin.

**BigDawg** · 07-12-07, 09:36 AM

It sounds like they are going about it in the right way. The Police will make it part of the arrest data sheet, and they will only deny services for which the law already says Illegals arent intitled to. I cant wait to see how the ACLU takes this on.

**rob84** · 07-12-07, 09:50 AM

I live in prince william county

**bmf95b** · 07-13-07, 01:27 AM

Immigration violation is a federal law. Peace Officers do not have the authority to enforce immigration laws. Here in Texas Peace officers are not allowed to detain someone soly based on their immigration status.

**bmf95b** · 07-13-07, 01:30 AM

Imagine if the immigration laws of today existed back when the Europeans came without papers. Hmmm....

**bmf95b** · 07-13-07, 01:31 AM

Okay let me have it now.........

**Rhino** · 07-13-07, 03:19 AM

Okay, so let me get this straight: The law requries county employees to ask someone their legal residential status?

I must be missing something- because... so?

I ask people all the time if they are in this country legally or illegally. Doesn't matter.

**lewisipso** · 07-13-07, 03:55 AM

Why wouldn't you ask. It's just a question. It's part of arrest infomation. If your legal great. If your not busted. Sounds like common sense to me. It has to be a policy?
This doesn't sound like enforcement. Sounds like arrest follow up. The information should then be forwarded to the proper immigration authorities? Let them deal with that. If they don't and it's an arrest kick them to the curb after the charges are dealt with and keep a stat that the agency refused to handle it.

Cheech · 07-13-07, 08:38 AM

Yes lets get rid of all mexicans!

**Rhino** · 07-13-07, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by Cheech

Yes lets get rid of all mexicans!

Then who's gonna cut my grass?

**BEB** · 07-13-07, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by Rhino

Then who's gonna cut my grass?

A teenager. As soon as there's an X-Box game which integrates with a Toro via 802.11g.

Cheech · 07-13-07, 10:25 AM

No one you know damn well you white folk suck at landscaping!

**Jks9199** · 07-13-07, 01:30 PM

I don't have a problem with restricting some services (like libraries, housing assistance, schools, etc.) to illegal aliens. But I also don't think local cops should be turned into ICE agents; it's hard enough getting some of these folks to talk to us as it is. This is only going to make it worse for PWPD officers. I like the idea of using the 287(g) certification program in the jails, where the aliens are already being detained. Don't think it belongs with street cops; just have good, available ICE agents that actually follow up on reports.

As an aside... In VA (and I suspect many if not most other states), LEOs can detain IF there's an immigration detainer on the person.