Virginia's Prince William County resolution against Illegal immigration
This evening the Supervisors over Prince William County, Virginia are taking public comment on funding the July 10 resolution that was unanimously passed allowing police and other law enforcement agencies to check immigration status in the event of an infraction or ticket citation. This can prompt deportation if found to be illegal.
This issue has spurred much emotional response and a greater sense of thoughtful logic. As I am observing this county meeting, I can cite that there are some rather interesting - though not unexpected things happening. Still, I will leave it to the local paper to describe the scene as this is food for thought. Note the highlighted sections and I have further comment after the article.
http://www.potomacnews.com/servlet/S...53134676&path=
PWC anti-illegal immigrant vote expected go into the night
Potomac News
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
About 1, 500 people are gathered outside of the Prince William County seat in anticipation of a vote on a controversial anti-illegal immigration resolution.
Hundreds of opponents of the anti-illegal immigration resolution gathered outside the the McCoart building to make their voices heard, as did about 20 supporters of the resolution. (Staff Photo/Dylan Moore).
More than 200 people have signed up to testify at the board of supervisors meeting, which could last into the night. Each person has three minutes to speak.
The McCourt administration building is at capacity and county police aren't letting anyone in unless they have signed up to speak.
The atmosphere outside of the McCoart Administration Center was that of a carnival with 1,500 to 2,000 people chanted "Si se puede" or "Yes we can" while waving little U.S. flags.
Four men sold ice cream from little green push carts while people perused the pamphlets and books on a table set up by the Socialists Workers Party.
A woman who would only give her first name of Janice, sat at the table with Malcom X and Che Guevara biographies, The communist Manifesto, and a newspaper entitled the Militant.
Janice said she was at McCoart to "support the struggle."
"We're here to find out what people are thinking and to make our voices heard as well to rescind this anti-immigrant resolution," Janice said.
Sue Frankel-Streit came from Louisa County dressed as Lady Liberty to protest the resolution.
Frankel-Streit said she opposes the resolution because of the strife it would cause in the community.
"I think it creates division in the community and diverts a lot of taxpayer's money that could be used for other things," Frankel-Streit, 43, said. "It creates an atmosphere of fear in the community."
Joyce Young, of Woodbridge, stood with a little group of people wearing Help Save Manassas stickers and said she supported the resolution because she sees it as an "attempt to protect to community."
Young said she didn't want tax dollars going to pay for illegal immigration.
The resolution is aimed at denying county services to illegal immigrants and directs police to jail those who cannot provide documentation proving they are in the U.S. legally.
Speakers are expected to address the board into the night.
As the meeting got underway at 2 p.m ., Chairman Corey A. Stewart, R-at large, told speakers they would have one minute to talk.
Supervisor Maureen S. Caddigan, R-Dumfries, appealed his decision, pointing out that Stewart had sent mailers to all county residents inviting them to attend the meeting and give their comments. She said they should be given the customary three minutes to do so.
The board voted 6-2 to overrule the chairman and give speakers three minutes. Stewart and Supervisor John T. Stirrup, R-Gainesville, who introduced the immigration resolution, were the only officials to vote to limit them to one minute.
Stewart, has been criticized by fellow board members for sending the invitation to every county resident. He and Stirrup have been the main proponents of the resolution.
Of interesting note, Mexicans Without Borders is a registered tax exempt group, yet they are not following the requirements needed to maintain that status. They are here with a a lawsuit having been lodged against the county by them. Many of the people who contest the July 10 resolution are wearing supplied t shirts of green color that state, "Not with my taxes, Not in my name. Rescind the Resolution".
The issue not against a people or race. It is against those who do not follow the law, no matter where they are from. This resolution has been called a racist action, but those who are making that an issue are those who are against the passing of it. It's as if it is a last ditch scheme of the desperate - or a socialist argument to detract from the real issue at hand.
It was recently cited in the Los Angeles times that LA County spends 1 Billion annually on services to illegal immigrants. Yes... Billion.
Prince William County has nowhere near the budget as LA and is currently estimated to be spending 43 Million annually. This at a time when the State of Virginia is in a deficit and is reducing funding for law enforcement.
A similarity between LAC and PWC is MS13, drugs, and crime in general. Certainly not all illegal immigrants are committing crimes in addition to entering illegally, but there is a significant number who do.
So, if that 43 Million were available to fund law enforcement, then matters of crime could be better addressed.
The above article cites over 200 people signed to speak at the meeting. That is locals in the county. Out of county people have their speak afterwards. No clear number is cited at this point for the out of county folks, but there are between 1500 and 2000 people outside.
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