2 Va. counties OK immigration crackdown

[JODO 2]

2 Va. counties OK immigration crackdown

By SARAH KARUSH,

Associated Press Writer 30 minutes ago

Ines Olivia Martinez wonders if her family will be denied medical care. Even her mentally disabled 13-year-old son has been anxiously pointing out police cars amid fears of a local crackdown on illegal immigrants.

Resolutions to deny a potentially wide range of public services to illegal immigrants have thrust two northern Virginia counties into the nation's immigration debate. The measures passed in July in Prince William and Loudoun counties join a flurry of recent efforts by local governments nationwide that believe the federal government has not done enough to stop illegal immigration.

But while other jurisdictions have focused largely on landlords and employers who knowingly rent to and hire illegal immigrants, the Virginia resolutions take a more direct approach. The National Association of Counties says the two counties are the first it knows of to pass measures aimed at denying services.

They probably will not be the last. Officials in several other Virginia counties have said they plan to follow suit, and the sponsor of the Prince William resolution says he has gotten e-mails from all over the country praising his efforts.

The new approach comes as some jurisdictions back off plans to crack down on landlords and employers following a federal court ruling last month that struck down a law in Hazleton, Pa. The much-copied law would have imposed fines on landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and denied business permits to those who employ them. Hazleton on Thursday filed a notice of appeal in federal court, although it could take up to six months before the appeal is heard.

The northern Virginia measures are also likely to face legal challenges. The Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, which advocates on behalf of Latinos and other minority groups, has threatened to sue Prince William County. Other groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, say they fear service restrictions will result in discrimination, but are waiting to see how the crackdown will be implemented before taking legal action.

Critics say the resolutions are a racist reaction to profound demographic changes in Prince William and Loudoun, two of the fastest-growing counties in the Washington area. Together, the counties account for 8 percent of Virginia's population, with more than 600,000 residents.

According to census estimates released this month, Prince William's Hispanic population has more than doubled since 2000, to nearly 70,000 last year. Non-Hispanic whites account for a little more than half of the population, down from about two-thirds in 2000. In Loudoun, the share of minorities increased from 20 percent to 32 percent.

Proponents blame illegal immigrants for changing the character of the region, accusing them of packing too many people into single-family homes and failing to learn English.

"It's reached a boiling point — or a boil-over point," said Supervisor John T. Stirrup, who sponsored the Prince William measure.

For Martinez — who has lived in Manassas, in Prince William County, for two years — the resentment against illegal immigrants came as a surprise.

"It broke my heart," the 41-year-old Mexico City native said of the measure. "We were all thinking there would be an amnesty" declared by the federal government.

Although Manassas has a separate government from Prince William County, many immigrants like Martinez do not understand the distinction. Those who do say they are concerned because work, friends and daily errands take them into Prince William County and because they fear the city could follow the county's lead.

In Loudoun and Prince William, officials are still studying which public services legally can be withheld and how such restrictions could be implemented.

The resolutions say emergency medical care will not be denied, and federal restrictions already control many other services. For instance, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1982 that children can't be kept out of school on the basis of immigration status, while food stamps are off-limits to illegal immigrants.

The status of other services, such as health care for the uninsured, libraries and parks, are less clear-cut.

Critics say limiting access to facilities would make the counties feel like police states for everyone who sets foot there.

"Everywhere people step, they have to show their documents and prove their right to be there," said John Trasvina, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Prince William County Police Chief Charlie T. Deane has warned that the crackdown could backfire.

The resolution in his county includes a provision instructing police to investigate the immigration status of anyone they detain if there is probable cause to believe the person is in the country illegally.

Deane said the measure could diminish immigrants' trust in police and make them reluctant to cooperate as witnesses. He also said denying recreational services could lead to a rise in the number of young people turning to crime.

Martinez said some of her friends and relatives have moved out of Prince William County because of the measure. Others are gearing up for a fight.

Hispanic activists are planning a weeklong boycott of all nonimmigrant, non-Hispanic businesses in Prince William County beginning Monday and a one-day general labor strike in October.

"We came to better ourselves as human beings because we also want a better life for our children," said Rocio Martinez-Lopez, 35, Martinez's sister. "People say, `We're going to another state.' I tell them, `No, we have to fight.'"

___

On the Net:

Prince William County: http://www.co.prince-william.va.us/ Loudoun County: http://www.co.loudoun.va.us/

[GaryC 7]

This was bound to happen since all Washington wanted to do was give these people a free pass. While I sympathize with individual hard luck stories I think that this is something that needs to happen all over the country. When we take away the welcome mat by turning off the jobs and benefits meant for our own citizens then the problem will go away on it's own. Make these people think ICE is always just around the corner and they will go home without need for mass deportations. Doing things legally has it's own benefits, namely not having to worry if your going to be deported.

[mawilson 2,133]

Hispanic activists are planning a weeklong boycott of all nonimmigrant, non-Hispanic businesses in Prince William County beginning Monday and a one-day general labor strike in October.

Remember the "day without immigrants" just over a year ago planned by Hispanic activists

who claimed it would bring the country to its knees and cripple the economy?

Guess what - the day came and went, and no-one noticed ANY changes whatsoever,

much to their chagrin.

[Ban Hammer 14,573]

Hispanic activists are planning a weeklong boycott of all nonimmigrant, non-Hispanic businesses in Prince William County beginning Monday and a one-day general labor strike in October.

Remember the "day without immigrants" just over a year ago planned by Hispanic activists

who claimed it would bring the country to its knees and cripple the economy?

Guess what - the day came and went, and no-one noticed ANY changes whatsoever,

much to their chagrin.

as for the illegal "....thinking there would be an amnesty" declared by the federal government." maybe he should be thinking about heading home - and moving fast so the door don't hit him in the #######.

[peejay 327]

I'm sure the ACLU, MALDEF, LULAC, La Raza, SPLC, etc., etc., will find an activist judge that will decide that any and every illegal alien that breaks into the USA is "entitled" to the cornucopia of taxpayer funded social services offered and intended for its citizens. As long as the bauble head is in the White House, the Federal government will do nothing to deter illegal immigration and the state, county, and local governments will be barred from looking out for the best interests of its local citizens.

American social services are open to illegal aliens that have no right to it. Where is the deterent when the welcome wagon is in town?

One very good reason to only vote for a Presidential candidate that takes the "no amnesty" pledge. No Democrat has and only a few Republicans. Sad and outrageous, but true.

The welcome wagon should not be in town for illegal aliens to partake. Their own government is responsible for providing them their own welcome wagon, not us!

[rebeccajo 14]

Educational fodder from the minds of lawyers:

"Communities who are trying to enact laws against illegal immigration may be stopped dead in their tracks by a U.S. District Court decision to strike down similar laws in Hazelton, Pa.

The July ruling in Lozano v. Hazleton, No. 3:06cv1586 (M.D. Pa.) has been touted as the ACLU's biggest victory so far in its ongoing fight against local immigration ordinances.

In a 206-page opinion, the court issued a permanent injunction against the Hazleton ordinances that:

Imposed a $1,000 per day fine on landlords who rent to illegal immigrants;

Revoked the business license of any employer who hires illegal immigrants;

Declared English as the town's official language; and

Prohibited town employees from translating documents into another language without approval.

In the first part of this year, 170 immigration laws on various topics have been enacted in 41 states - and many cities and towns have passed ordinances similar to Hazleton's. Even more local governments have considered taking the immigration issue into their own hands since Congress failed to pass a comprehensive immigration bill in June.

"Congress hasn't mustered up the courage to pass comprehensive immigration reform and lawmakers need to roll up their sleeves and fix it to stop the unfortunate phenomenon of state and local governments stepping in," said Cleveland immigration attorney David Leopold of Leopold & Associates.

Some experts said the federal court ruling should stop local governments from passing and enforcing these types of ordinances."

Rest of the article here:

http://www.fllawyersweekly.com/subscriber/...ryText=hazelton