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The Illegal Alien Issue Moves To Liberal Jurisdictions
By Greg L | 18 August 2007 | Fairfax County, Illegal Aliens | 13 Comments
Is the illegal alien issue going to transform local politics in nearly monolithic Democratic strongholds where such issues never really registered previously? From the looks of today’s Washington Post, that seems likely. The issue is rapidly moving to the forefront of the political debate in Fairfax County, and Montgomery County, both of which have established sanctuary policies for illegal aliens. Although the political leadership doesn’t want to address the issue, a growing groundswell of popular opinion is forcing them to at least pay lip service in some cases to get control over residential overcrowding and other impacts related to the presence of illegal aliens within these jurisdictions.
Even in these relatively liberal counties, considered friendly to their foreign-born populations, immigration threatens to become a wedge issue. “I worry that if we’re not careful, we could have very long-lasting divisions,” [Montgomery County Executive Ike] Leggett said in an interview.
The real wedge that concerns these elected officials who have presided over the deterioration of their communities by hordes of border-jumping illegal aliens is not a division among the people over a policy issue. It’s a division within the Democratic party base between those reasonable Democrats who understand that something has to be done to address the legitimate concerns of those who suffer the effects of this issue, and those on the far left who refuse to recognize any negative impacts at all and are devoted to the destruction of our communities and our culture. This somewhat mirrors the split between the Daily Kos crowd and the DLC, where the hard-left nutroots are calling their DLC counterparts “Republican lite” and making a determined push to wrest control of the Democratic Party from the moderates.
Although folks like Walter Tejada can be successful in enclaves where the ritual worship to the Daily Kos is the norm, at a state and national level these kooks have the potential to utterly destroy their party. Promoting amnesty for illegal aliens right now is beyond politically unpopular, and defending local sanctuary policies is a wedge issue that will easily divide Democrats. Gerry Connolly, Ike Legget and other Democrat heavyweights in the region severely risk their political futures if they ally with the amnesty crowd.
Yet a substantial portion of their campaign volunteers and political contributions come from the amnesty crowd, which substantially controls the active political base and participates in numbers far greater than their proportional strength in the candidate selection process of their party. To turn their backs on the far-left fringe is politically risky, and would imperil their relationship with their party base. Over the next few months, we’ll see which segment of their party these leaders are truly allied with, or whether they’ll continue to try to accommodate both, which won’t work in the long term.
The citizens are rising up on this number one issue in Virginia, and those elected officials and candidates who are on the wrong side of this issue risk paying a heavy price, even if they think they’re safe within a liberal stronghold. The number of jurisdictions where it’s safe to be an illegal alien apologist is rapidly shrinking, and Fairfax is increasingly a less-safe jurisdiction for the amnesty crowd.
The opinions expressed here are solely the views of the author, and not representative of the position of any organization, political party, doughnut shop, knitting guild, or waste recycling facility, but may be correctly attributed to the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy. If anything in the above article has offended you, please click here to receive an immediate apology.
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I can tell you for a fact that illegal immigration is the single, solitary most important issue in this election. It is also the only issue which will not only divide Democrats, but turn democrats to other parties, but only if the Republicans show the leadership we need. At this point, no one wants to take up this fight in a meaningful way. Republicans have a true opportunity here which will be utterly wasted if they do not heed to the people’s will.
My brother, who is a liberal, lives in the Peoples Republic of Arlington. He’s finding out that he will have to send his daughters to school in South Arlington with the illegal aliens’ anchor babies. He’s not happy.
Here’s an interesting read — a July 25 response that I received from Chairman Connelly:
“Thank you for contacting me with respect to the issue of illegal
immigration. This is a very serious and complicated issue that began
when the federal government failed at living up to its responsibilities.
“Local jurisdictions across the country have begun attempting various
approaches to address the impact of illegal immigration on their
communities. While some strategies may prove more effective than
others, the courts have overturned a number of these attempts.
Therefore, any local action should be carefully thought out to withstand
judicial scrutiny, along with ensuring that it fully addresses the long
term best interests of the community at large.
“Fairfax County currently employs a number of different strategies to
deal with illegal immigration. Our Police Department works with the
federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) and has
participated in a regional task force leading to the deportation of a
number of illegal immigrants involved in gangs, terrorism and other
criminal actions. Additionally, our Police Department checks criminal
records and identifies any outstanding ICE detainer warrants on an
arrested individual. The Police notify ICE of these outstanding
warrants and ICE is supposed to pick up the individual for deportation
within 48 hours. Unfortunately, due to strained federal resources,
ICE’s current capabilities permit it to handle only roughly 40
individuals a month from the Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC
region. Without significant investment by the federal government, any
efforts by local jurisdictions may be limited.
“Fairfax County also currently restricts a number of benefits to those
demonstrating legal residence in the United States including several
housing assistance, health care and social service programs. Federal,
State and County housing assistance programs administered by Fairfax
County require documentation of U.S. citizenship. Many Medicaid programs
administered by the County also require proof of legal residence.
Social services, such as child care assistance, food stamps, home energy
assistance, Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare assistance,
and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families are limited to legal
residents.
“In addition to our current practices, Fairfax County is also looking at
a number of additional measures that may also prove beneficial to the
community at large. We are reviewing the recent enactments by Prince
William and Loudoun Counties. Furthermore, in concert with the Sheriff,
we are investigating the possibility of deputizing a number of Sheriff’s
Deputies to perform certain federal immigration duties.
“Ultimately, local governments and our citizens are being asked to
shoulder the burden of illegal immigration because of the federal
government’s failure to act on this issue. While Fairfax County cannot
fully substitute our local government for the federal responsibility, we
will continue to explore how best to serve our community.
“It is also important to remember that Fairfax County has been a shining
example of the great melting pot that is America, and we are a community
rich in cultural diversity. In 1980, Fairfax County was 13.8% minority;
today, that number is closer to 40%. In that intervening time, Fairfax
County has achieved the second-highest median household incomes in the
nation. Our schools’ performance continues to outshine the nation, as
we are the only jurisdiction our size with all of our high schools named
as top performers by Newsweek magazine. Our SAT scores have never been
higher. This past year, Fairfax County experienced a 32 year low in
crime rates; the lowest crime rate of any jurisdiction our size in
America. As we work to address the issue of illegal immigration it is
essential that we do not unfairly malign our immigrant community as a
whole and the many positive contributions that they have made to Fairfax
County.
“Thank you again for sharing your concerns on this pressing issue.
“Sincerely,
“Gerald E. Connolly, Chairman
“Fairfax County Board of Supervisors”
Did anyone see that one of the suspects wanted in the Newark executions was just arrested in Prince William County? I wish that it had been in Fairfax!
Or better yet, I hope ICE was called here in our county!
Two suspects arrested in Newark shootings
NEWARK, N.J., Aug. 18 (UPI) — Two Newark, N.J., brothers were arrested Saturday for the execution-style slayings of three college students in a city schoolyard earlier this month.
Rodolfo Godinez, 24, and his 16-year-old brother were picked up in Manassas, Va., after being tracked down by the FBI, the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger reported.
The arrests leave only one of six suspects still at large in the Aug. 4 shootings of four young people during a botched robbery. One of the victims survived.
The Star-Ledger said Saturday that the Godinez brothers faced three counts of murder plus weapons charges.
Law enforcement sources indicated the suspects’ cell phones may have been used to track them to Virginia.
Barbara
both CNN and Wtop report Godinez as being arrested by the FBI fugitive task force in Prince George County in a flophouse where eight other men were staying. He was supposed to flee to Texas and then go back to Mexico. His half brother is being reported as apprehended in Woodbridge.
It is amazing to me how this case has been relegated to third page and how everyone is trying to sweep this under the carpet because it does not affect “white” affluent America. I think that this case is a landmark case in understanding where the battle lines are drawn in the inner cities and how this case is part of an ugly reality that is being hidden from view but will increasingly affect poor neighborhoods. If racial tensions are not defused in good time and gang activity is not stemmed, there will be a considerable increase in violent crime for which there will be little remedy.
These most recently apprehended butchers have been positively identified as illegal aliens, too. One is identified as being nabbed in Woodbridge, VA in some sources and Manassas, VA in other sources. In either case, not at all surprising where they were found.
An excerpt from a WCBS report:
“In Virginia, Prince William County Police said three others were arrested at the Woodbridge address where the 16-year-old was found. Besides immigration violation charges, the three were also charged with obstruction of justice and accused of providing false personal information to investigators.”
Don’t fret, they will all be back on the streets in no time after they are deported and then waltz right across the border again that same day for their ride back to Virginia. They will be back for the holidays. Thank your police and politicians folks.
Many times the press say’s Manassas when relating to Prince William County. I believe that is what the conflicting reports are about.
Three more illegals arrested! They’ll be let out tomorrow since it was only false I.D. Wonder whose identity they STOLE. Those poor hard working illegals!
I doubt that they’ll be released Had to Say. They are wanted in NJ for suspicion of murder and they are likely to be in court shortly on an extradition warrant.
re: Anon said on 18 Aug 2007 at 1:37 pm:
Here’s an interesting read — a July 25 response that I received from Chairman Connelly:
“Fairfax County also currently restricts a number of benefits to those demonstrating legal residence in the United States including several housing assistance, health care and social service programs. Federal, State and County housing assistance programs administered by Fairfax County require documentation of U.S. citizenship. Many Medicaid programs administered by the County also require proof of legal residence. Social services, such as child care assistance, food stamps, home energy assistance, Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare assistance, and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families are limited to legal residents.”
Many of us in Fairfax County take Connelly’s responses with a grain of salt. It may be he’s used this PC line for so long, he’s starting to believe it. Those of us who live, work and shop among illegal aliens KNOW Fairfax County is a Sanctuary County with a “don’t ask/don’t tell” policy when it comes to doling out money, benefits and services to illegal aliens.
When the PW and Loudoun Counties illegal aliens planned their protest and retail boycott for later this month, they referred to Fairfax County as “immigrant friendly,” and encouraged illegal aliens and apologists to shop Fairfax.
Illegal aliens lie about many things, but not about sanctuary cities, towns and counties.