Yesterday, the Prince William County Board of Supervisors was scheduled to vote on a serious of measures designed to enforce the anti-illegal immigration ordinance passed over the summer.
Instead of taking the action expected, though, they delayed any substantive measures citing concerns over funding:
Prince William County supervisors slowed their closely watched crackdown on illegal immigrants yesterday, as one of the nation’s most aggressive efforts at local enforcement has run into the reality of budget constraints at a time of declining revenue.
County supervisors remained united in wanting to show that local governments can do more to rid their towns of illegal immigrants, voting unanimously to support a new police policy that increases residency checks and improves cooperation with federal immigration authorities. But when it came to allocating the $14.2 million it would cost to implement the policy, the supervisors balked, voting to revisit the issue later.
The board’s vote, taken late yesterday afternoon after spirited public debate, delays the implementation of the key elements of the immigration policy.
Specifically, supervisors said it was too soon to commit money for any of the measures. With property values falling by 10 percent or more and a $575,000 cut in state funding for county police services projected, several supervisors urged more time and caution.
“Part of me feels like we’ve been pulled away from our central mission,” said Supervisor W.S. “Wally” Covington III (R-Brentsville). “For me, what this has always been about is what the cost is.”
Supervisors also postponed their vote on proposals that would have denied county services to illegal immigrants, arguing that more time is needed to study the costs and potential consequences. The suggested service cuts outlined at yesterday’s meeting did not put a price on tighter residency checks by county staff members. Supervisors also postponed their vote on funding a seven-officer Criminal Alien Unit within the police department.
Board Chairman Corey A. Stewart (R-At Large) pushed hard to get the measures approved and funded, insisting that the board vote on them no later than Oct. 16. Stewart, who is running for reelection and has taken credit for the county’s anti-illegal immigration policies, presented the vote as a pressing public safety issue.
“We have broad and deep public support,” Stewart said. “. . . Although the cost is not insignificant, it does at least help to bring in and take criminal illegal aliens off the streets.”
But the decision to delay a vote on funding was a sign that fissures have begun to appear in the board’s determination to make the county inhospitable to illegal immigrants.
Given the increased cost of running the county, and the expected decline in revenue that is likely to result from the decline in the housing market, it’s possible that some Supervisors are wondering if it really makes sense for the Prince William County Police Department to be turned into a surrogate for ICE.
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:39 pm
Actually the board endorsed the police department’s proposed standards for probable cause for officer interactions with suspected illegal aliens, adopted the Section 287(g) Program in the Juvenile Detention Facility, and authorized the staff to pursue legislative opportunities to continue cracking down on illegal aliens. With setbacks like this, we’ll completely win this battle by the end of the year.
Although we have a two week delay in setting appropriations for this and determining which taxpayer-funded services should be restricted to illegal aliens, that probably will be adopted after the Supervisors have a chance to look at all the details.
The Police Department will start asking all suspected illegal aliens about their immigration status as soon as officers can get the necessary training on General Order 45.01, which won’t make them a surrogate for ICE, but a partner in the continuum of local, state and federal law enforcement efforts just as they do now with crimes such as bank robbery. Six months ago, the police department’s policy was “catch and release” with all illegal aliens, unless they committed a felony.
This will be adopted, because constituents are calling their supervisors and demanding it.
October 9th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
I don’t understand what really has changed. Police officers have always asked people for ‘papers’ (documents of legal presence). The public has forced itself into this mass hysteria as the population of Prince William continues to diversify. More and more it’s obvious that this county is headed towards a multicultural environment similar to other high-immigration cities like El Paso and Miami.
A short analysis on the topic follows at this website:
Immigration Laws in Prince William County - Pros and Cons
October 15th, 2007 at 11:11 am
I am not in favor of the immigration law that you want to pass in Prince William County. I am an immigrant, who migrated from El Salvador 17 years ago. I am a U. S. Citizen and reside in Prince William. I will not vote for you because of your racism against immigrants. I do agree that criminals need to be out of this country, but not immigrants that come to this Country to work hard to improve their life style. If you say immigrants, don’t just focus on Hispanic looking people. This law wiil discriminate against one group of people, which is us (Hispanics). If you look at my face I look like an immigrant, I don’t look like I am a U. S. Citizen, and your laws are only targeting at Hispanics. Just asked yourself, where do your parents come from, I am sure they immigrated from another country too. I do not support the Prince Willima immigration law. Sincerely, Miladis Martinez
October 17th, 2007 at 7:56 am
what race is “illegal”
forget the race card ,this is about stealing welfare