Local Governments Moving Forward On Illegals
By Greg L | 5 September 2007 | Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Illegal Aliens, Manassas City, Prince William County | 37 Comments
The efforts of local governments to help address the issue of illegal aliens continue to move forward, despite the hysteria being promoted by fringe groups like Mexicans Without Borders.
The Washington Post reports that efforts to establish a “Prince William Criminal Alien Initiative” are moving forward, which will join the Prince William County Police Department, the Prince William County Sheriff’s Department, The Manassas City Police Department, The Manassas Park Police Department and the Regional Adult Detention Center in a unified agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the federal Section 287(g) Program. A consistent approach from area law enforcement agencies towards illegal aliens will be a positive move forward, although there still will be some discontinuities until such time that consistent policies are established regarding police officer interactions with suspected illegal aliens who commit crimes or offenses that don’t fall under the list of crimes that trigger a legal status review under 287(g).
Meanwhile, Loudoun and Prince William Counties are working on that issue of how to deal with suspected illegal aliens who commit crimes other than felonies, as well as an approach towards what public benefits should be provided or restricted to illegal aliens. Manassas City might start moving on this as early as this evening. On Thursday, the issue of pushcart vendors will come up again in Manassas City, with staff recommendations about how to ensure better compliance with business licensing ordinances.
In Herndon, the town council’s efforts to address it’s difficult position of having an official day laborer center running at taxpayer expense that encourages illegal aliens to reside in the area is continuing, despite a ruling from a Fairfax County District Court which struck down the town’s anti-solicitation ordinance. That ordinance required that all day laborer hiring be done at the center, which provided it with a very thin justification for being in the town. Without an anti-solicitation ordinance, the Herndon Town Council isn’t going to have much incentive to keep this in operation, regardless of whether the center’s operator verifies the legal status of those seeking employment.
The illegal alien lobby should be very concerned. They’re losing ground on every front, and definitely being stretched thin as numerous localities are simultaneously taking actions to ensure that their jurisdictions are not going to be places where illegal aliens will want to reside. As this wave continues to build at the local and state level, perhaps our federal legislators will wake up and start doing their job, or at least clearly and unambiguously grant localities and states the powers to address the illegal alien issue, something they appear to be unwilling or unable to do at this point.
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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MSF had their boycott and their rallies, and their only result is that the city of Manassas is considering adopting a resolution similar to PWC.
Rewind to last eyar, when the large illegal alien rallies only resulted in a wave of anti illegal legislation being passed throughout the nation.
Earlier this year, a national amnesty policy was feated, chiefly due to pressure by constituents fed up with illegal aliens.
You think they would have learned that calling attention to themselves only calls attention to the problems that they cause and prompts action against the illegal alien problem.
I say let MSF, La Raza, and their ilk continue their efforts. heck do even more! It only helps our cause.
Looks like Police Chief Charley Deane has felt the heat, and now sees the light. His report to the BOCS will be interesting.
One only has to read the comments to the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?VA287g to understand just how agitated the citizenry are that laws have not been enforced. The distinctions between federal, state, and local responsibility for insuring the safety of citizens are lost on Joe Sixpack. All he knows is he’s getting shafted by politicians and officials at all levels with the result that he is now living in conditions approaching third world status instead of enjoying the fruits of his and his forefathers’ labors. We’ve still got a long way to go, but we’re on the right road, thanks in large part to your efforts, Greg.
Now Culpeper and Warrenton better get onboard!
I wonder if this will be covered during the Virginia Politics hour today on WAMU. Illegal immigration is one of the topics.
Virginia Politics Hour
U.S. Senator John Warner’s decision to retire is setting off a chain-reaction in the Old Dominion, as leaders in both parties start positioning themselves for November 2008. Meanwhile find out how state & local elections in November 2007 are affecting how different communities approach the illegal immigration controversy. It’s the Virginia Politics Hour, our wrap up of news and views from around the Commonwealth.
Guests
Amy Gardner, Reporter, The Washington Post
Bob Gibson, Reporter, Charlottesville Daily Progress
Jay O’Brien, Virginia State Senator (R- 39th District, Fairfax)
Creigh Deeds, Virginia State Senator (D- 25th District, Charlottesville)
Gerald Connolly, Chairman, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (D)
David Albo, Member, Virginia House of Delegates, (R-Springfield)
Oh, I should have said, it’s the Kojo Nnamdi show at 12.
The tide has turned. The genie is out of the bottle. The ship has sailed and the horse is out of the barn.
Apologists for the chaos of illegal alien influx, whether they be fringe groups like MSF, UITC, WWC and La Raza or politicians who prefer ribbon cutting to resolving problems, need to get with the program or get out of the way. This is no passing fancy on behalf of the taxpayers. This issue is here to stay and will not fade into history into the people have been heard and satisfied. It resonates because it is abc simple. Legal immigrants yes, illegal aliens no.
As JM says above, further protests and boycotts by the fringe groups will only cause more taxpaying Virginians and legal immigrants to oppose them and blend their voices with ours.
When they write the textbooks years hence, Help Save Manassas and the citizens of this county should have their own chapter on grass roots activism.
Textbook.
Dan, are you saying the tide has just turned in Virginia or across the entire country on this issue?
they tide has turned for the entire country. This is a freight-train effect, it only takes on county or state to enact a law and then the others will follow suit.
dont you see that most of the population of this country cannot stand illegal aliens? I say most because the rest are either fence sitters or illegal alien apologists like your self.
illegals can go back to the border, I’ll even volunteer to rent some trucks and take them or better yet…maybe we can all pitch in and rent a plane for a week and fly them there.
whatever it takes, I’m on board with it.
Josh
Hey Josh:
You provide the trucks, I’ll provide the guns and ammo, and we can send them all back to revolutionize, democratize, and capitalize their countries. Do you realize that most of these illegals come from countries with tremendous natural assets (Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, Nigeria, to name a few)? If only the people would put as much time, money, and effort into ridding themselves of their worthless governments as they do in attempting to come here, there would be a rising economic tide in the world that would lift all our boats.
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=46754
Here we go again with the ACLU circus!
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/04/Dobbs.Sept5/
This coincides with the above.
http://www.usa.gov/gobiernousa/index.shtml
And this is what happens when English is NOT the official language!
http://www.michnews.com/c/article_01_17_06.shtml
And for the liberals in the house that don’t think that their is a major problem with some of the La Raza groups!
Advocator said: If only the people would put as much time, money, and effort into ridding themselves of their worthless governments as they do in attempting to come here, there would be a rising economic tide in the world that would lift all our boats.
I wholeheartedly agree - when will they learn? Protest in your home countries, but don’t just run from your problems or stand around and chant -do something!
Leila, this is unquestionably a nationwide phenomenon. Prince William has captured a lot of attention due to its proximity to the nation’s capitol but you can find activity bubbling on the issue in most areas of the country if you do daily news searches.
You know I am afraid that with the opening of the Mexican superhighway, that we will have trucks bringing in masses of illegals that won’t be stopped.
what do we do about this?
Jorge Bush’s big mistake was to let the Mexican trucks on our highways. This is really going to wake the people up. Are Mexican truckers doing work our truckers won’t do?
Of course they’re doing work our truckers won’t do. They’re bringing in drugs, more illegals, sex slaves, terrorists, etc.
With the hurricane damage down there, they should be able to find some work, too.
I’m a teacher and today one of my students told me that his dad had been deported. He said that he thought he would be back in 10 days. It’s an uphill battle.
Business licenses should only be issued after the business has completed the E-verify process sponsored by DHS. This takes minutes to complete and will address the pushcart issues.
Dan, I see the bubbles around the country. I just don’t see it as a tide that will have the impact you are presuming. I think it is a central issue for politicians to play to for the Republican base, but the business forces allied against it will probably prevail.
Plus local and national politicians get the brownie points even when the things they try to do are ruled unconstitutional and stopped in the ir tracks, like in Hazleton. I can’t help wondering if everything will end up in an amnesty as occurred under the president the Republicans revere as a saint.
I’m not saying there won’t be crackdowns. There will be more and more workplaces busted, etc. But I doubt a fence/wall will ever be built across nearly 2,000 miles of border or that if it is, it will be patrolled in a way that can’t be circumvented easily. After all, countries trying to maintain and patrol much tinier fences/walls as borders in just the hundreds of miles can’t do it. And this country doesn’t have the manpower, the money, or in truth the inclination, if it hurts business. I think it will be like many other Republican base issues. I am hard pressed to name one that has resulted in significant changes despite all the rhetoric to the faithful.
There was a very interesting article in the NYT about two brothers split by the illegal immigration issue. One is the mayor of a small NJ town and is like Barletta, and his brother is a Legal Aid lawyer. Very fascinating story. They are breaking their elderly mother’s heart by no longer speaking.
In a New Jersey Town, an Immigration Fight Pits Brother Against Brother
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/04/nyregion/04brothers.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
I can believe what I just found. Even the President of Mexico, doesn’t believe a nation has a right to enforce it’s own laws. He doesn’t understand that Americans are tired of dealing with people who break the law, are tired of dealing with the crime rings, gangs, border terrorists, and mafias that “illegally” enter our country.
I can’t believe that he made a statement that “Wherever there is a mexican, there is Mexico”. What is he trying to do, claim US land and mexican oversight legal authority and legal status for every location a Mexican has a foot planted as if its a Flag?
That’s like saying evertine a US citizen goes to Mexico, they own it and only come under US law. What an arrogant insult to every US citizen!
Here’s what he said in a speech… Sorry to post it so large, but you should read this, no wonder the “illegal” people who come here only care about their own race and ethnic group at the expense of all others, with a leader like that…
“MEXICO CITY, Sept. 2 — President Felipe Calderón harshly criticized the United States government on Sunday for the recent crackdown on illegal immigrants, saying it has led to the persecution of immigrant workers without visas.
The Bush administration has stepped up raids on factories and farms suspected of hiring illegal workers, imposing heavy fines and deporting a record number of illegal immigrants in 2006. The United States Congress this summer failed to approve proposed legislation to revamp immigration laws to make it easier for Mexican immigrants to gain citizenship or temporary work visas, disappointing the Calderón administration.
“In the name of the government of Mexico, I again issue an energetic protest against the unilateral measures taken by the Congress and the United States government that exacerbate the persecution and the vexing treatment against undocumented Mexican workers,” Mr. Calderón said in his annual formal address to the nation.
“The insensitivity shown toward those who have contributed to the economy and the United States society has been an inducement to redouble the struggle to recognize the enormous contribution to the economy of both countries and to defend their rights.”
As he has in the past, Mr. Calderón called on the United States Congress to pass changes to immigration law that would grant legal status to about 12 million Mexicans living and working illegally in the United States. He also reiterated his strong opposition to plans to build more fences and other barriers along much of the southern border. The assembled business executives and dignitaries gave him a standing ovation.
Criticizing the United States for its treatment of illegal Mexican immigrants has become routine for most Mexican politicians, including Mr. Calderón. Because the immigrants send home about $20 billion a year and because the yearly migration of more than 400,000 people relieves Mexico of masses of the poor, the government here has little incentive either to stem the migration northward or to support stricter measures making it harder for Mexicans to cross the border.
As the United States has stepped up enforcement efforts over the last two years, it has sent more and more Mexican immigrants home, where they have little or no work. Last year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents deported 183,431 people after raids nationwide.
The border patrol, meanwhile, has reported steep declines in apprehensions along the border over the last year, suggesting that fewer people are trying to enter illegally in light of beefed-up patrols and new physical barriers.
In his speech, Mr. Calderón, who has acknowledged that he has relatives who migrated to the United States, suggested that the deportation of undocumented immigrants bordered on a violation of human rights, and he vowed to help illegal migrants.
“I have said that Mexico does not stop at its border, that wherever there is a Mexican, there is Mexico,” he said. “And, for this reason, the government action on behalf of our countrymen is guided by principles, for the defense and protection of their rights.”
American employers who ignore immigration laws may face criminal charges and higher fines under a new enforcement effort announced in August.
Last week, Mr. Calderón, a conservative, met with Elvira Arellano, 32, a Mexican who entered the United states illegally and became famous among advocates for Mexican immigrants for defying deportation orders and claiming sanctuary in a Chicago church for a year. In a meeting in his Los Pinos residence, he promised to help Ms. Arellano obtain a visa for the United States.
Mr. Calderón, who took office last December after a razor-thin victory, was forced to deliver his annual state-of-the-nation speech to an invited audience in the National Palace on Sunday because on Saturday leftist lawmakers refused to let him deliver it to Congress, as presidents have done traditionally. He sent it to Congress in writing instead.
Mr. Calderón also urged Congress to pass a tax reform bill, to open the energy sector to more foreign investment and to take other measures he maintains will make Mexico more competitive and will create jobs. He said his goal as president was to generate more wealth and distribute it more equally.
But he acknowledged that he must win over lawmakers to accomplish anything. “It is possible to transform Mexico, but it cannot be done by decree,” he said.”
Michael: Let me help you understand. The USA cannot enforce our laws and secure our border vis a vis Mexico, etc. But Mexico is allowed to enforce and/or make up any law it wants. Mexicans are allowed to disregard our border. And the crimes they commit? They’re not really crimes because Mexicans don’t have to follow our laws. Americans are just being difficult.
Leila: Are you happy that you’re just seeing bubbles? Compared to a year ago, I see a wave. I want to see a tidal wave.
Monticup, bubbles was Dan’s word, and was not referring to the local situation. I think locally as in M/MP it is more than bubbles. But we will have to wait and see what the local governments actually decide they can legally enforce and whether they can overcome the almost certain legal challenges to the regulations as well as lawsuits if those who fit the profile, but are legal, start to get harassed.
Sorry I didn’t realize that Patriot had already posted the link. to Mexico’s presidential speech. I got carried away I was so angry and insulted by these remarks! What an arrogant leader! I still can’t believe our own President has said nothing in rebuke. Bush has just made one continuous mistake after another that the Amrican people and history will not forget. The American people must represent the people’s legal and moral rights to uphold and enforce the law we created with our represented local and state officials, if the President is not going to represent and support us by ensuring the law as written is enforced in all communites at all levels. If our existing elected oficials don’t enforce our existing laws, then the next step we need to take as a US Citizen’s right is to petition (by petition) for the removal of those leaders who misrepresent us and do not uphold and enforce our existing laws. That includes Governor Kaine if he does not act to enforce 287(g) and our existing laws governing “illegal” immigration and protect the citizens of our State and community from “illegal” activity and decline of our general welfare.
I also realized that Patriots link the the USA.GOV (spanish version) website only represented the Hispanic ethnic group language with a special privilege that all the OTHER ethnic groups represented in our country do not get. Althought it is LEGAL for a nation to use a SINGLE language that all other people and ethnic groups represented in the nation have the highest potential to understand, and since it is unconstitutional and unlawful to give one ethnic group, racial, religious, or gender group special privilige without giving it to ALL others equally (this US.GOV website does not and therefore IS NOT LEGAL), and since ENGLISH is the NATIVE language of our nation it should be the only language on publicly funded sites, unless ALL other possible languages are equally represented, including NAVAJHO original tongue. (I apologize to the 500 American Indian Nations for what white Settler ancestry did to them, they did not represent ME. I think all Americans ought to give 1 dollar of tax money, i.e. $360Million dollars to buy a portion of each American Indian Nations land back from private ownership, let it return to its native natural state and give it back in trust as a national park and museum to each of these 500 nations whose land was taken and stolen by former US presidents and broken treaties)
No one is going to get harrassed. If immigrant is here legally he has nothing to worry about. All laws can be legally enforced. They are laws. Laws should be enforced. Correct?
But he acknowledged that he must win over lawmakers to accomplish anything. “It is possible to transform Mexico, but it cannot be done by decree,” he said.”
It can be done at the point of a bayonet…
Michael,
I am your typical bleeding heart over American Indians. I make no bones about it. However, let’s think about your proposal and its implications.
What would you do if your house were sitting on these sacred Indian lands? I think your heart is in the right place but the practical end of returning Indian lands to the Indians is simply not possible.
Monticup, harassment will happen if asking for proof of legal residence or citizenship is not across the board, eg. if people are questioned on the basis of their appearance or language and that is considered probable cause.
Leila: That is not harassment. The fact is, based on deductive reasoning, some may look more like illegal aliens than others. The legal immigrants should be happy to show their legitimate papers. If their papers are genuine and not forged or stolen, they should have no problem. Might their feelings be hurt? In some cases. But it’s a small price to pay to clean up this mess.
I see a lot of lawsuits if you profile. I think you shouldn’t fear anything if you are here legally. One question Monticuo, How do you prove that the documents are genuine? The ones that exist now can be forged.
SYP, I see a lot of lawsuits as well. It will be like DWB on 95.
Start with the benefits. If you want benefits (welfare, foodstamps, etc.)…you get fingerprinted and photographed and a background check is conducted to ensure you are who you say you are (much like the verify database or whatever it is called). This will help to track everyone that is on these things to ensure no one is taking these benefits for life. Also, it will prevent double dipping using forged information. Before you liberals cry foul….just remember, getting benefits is purely a voluntary thing. If you don’t want to get checked out…don’t apply.
Dolph,
Sorry my replies are often late. I spend most of my time working on difficult technical problems, and don’t have much time to play or debate.
I’ve already been criticized for typo’s and sentence structure. But I really don’t care. If people appreciate the content and its solid, I’ve met my goal to inform and provoke thoughtful understanding. I can only apologize for late replies and bad grammer, but most people understand and accept I don’t have time to run through a word processor, and when I do on a long post meant as a one way transmission for an issue statement, I don’t structure it in any way except newpaper fill.
You however have posed an interesting and heartfelt reply that deserves an answer.
I would love to give Indians back large portions of their land, but that is not feasible unless it is done only as a small purchase for each tribe or nation, and placed in trust as a National Park in their honor (A Tribal museum that could make income for them, and later expand the land purchase). Feasibly, you can only buy land back as it becomes available for private purchase. I would not advocate imminant domain, but would support people donating land in trust (living trust, or protected natural refuges). VA has laws where this can be done in conservatory status. I would propose the same to the Indian Nations who once occupied the native land. They were the original Immigrants to North America BTW, 10,000.00 years ago at the end of the last Ice age. They are of ASIAN ethnic group descent, with DNA markers back to Mongolia and Kazakhstan. They killed the entire population of early Aborigines, who migrated in boats east to NA, except for very few left in Argentina.
I am 1/16 Cherokee, but do not register with a Native status. The rest of me is European most recently, but again very mixed, so it DOES NOT MATTER, IMHO we are ALL mixed races if you only go back a short time in history (40-60K years, we ALL have genetic markers that came from areas of Southern Egypt, and later Kazakhstan, so technically we are ALL African and Russian Mix. This is why I get so angry when people try to protest racially, name their protest groups by race or ethnic group (it causes conflict and NEVER peace), align racially or ethnically on GROUP ideologies, and HATE others not like themselves, or try to have civil riots with others who are not like themselves. The only isuue in my mind is the issue of “legal” and “illegal”. That is a social, ecomonic, and moral issue. The recent influx of “illegal” aliens is doing this 1960’s racial devisiveness thing all over again, as are the religions and genders. It will divide and destroy our country. It is wrong and needs to be stopped! I hope you feel the same way.