Virginia Beach
In about a week, Beach officials will be given the authority to audit new contractors to ensure they don't hire illegal workers. But many of the details - including under what circumstances an investigation would be launched and what documents city officials will use to verify immigration status - remain unclear.
"It's not mapped out exactly how we would do it," City Attorney Les Lilley said.
The audits are part of guidelines announced by Beach officials and approved by the City Council last week. Vendors also will have to certify that they don't hire illegal immigrants.
The clauses will be included in all new city contracts for more than $50,000 and will affect about 175 vendors who perform construction, software development, janitorial and landscape management work for Virginia Beach.
The city has standards in place to deal with issues such as vendor complaints about the bidding process, but not immigration, said Joanne Griggs, Virginia Beach's auditor.
"This is new territory," Griggs said. "I would want to make sure that we have a very tight process so the outcome is fair to any individual living and working in this city."
Depending on the procedures, the city's four auditors might need some additional resources and training, Griggs said.
This is the second policy targeting illegal immigration that Virginia Beach has adopted since two teens were killed last spring by a drunken driver who was an illegal immigrant. The case drew national media attention, and anti-illegal-immigration advocacy groups pressed city officials for action.
In May, police officers began asking everybody they arrested whether they were in the country legally.
Virginia Beach Sheriff Paul Lanteigne said the new policy might be the reason for the increasing number of illegal immigrants in the city's jail. In May, the jail housed 23 illegal immigrants; by October there were 72 illegal immigrants reported, Lanteigne said.
Alicia Fernandez-Bobulinski, director of Hispanic outreach for the Making a Difference Foundation, said she has heard that officers are asking immigration status questions prior to making an arrest, in instances such as traffic stops.
"Faith is being lost," Fernandez-Bobulinski said. "The administration is saying one thing, and another thing is happening on the street."
Sgt. Tony Yarbrough, with the police department's professional standards office, said he is aware of Fernandez-Bobulinski's concerns. But the office has not received any names or fielded any specific complaints about the new policy, Yarbrough said.
Councilman Ron Villaneuva said these new policies are important to make citizens feel safer, but he said he hopes the city has the staff and expertise to enforce them.
"What we're going to have here is a tough policy," Villanueva said about the contractor guidelines. "But there may not be the teeth to implement this directive effectively."
Councilwoman Rosemary Wilson said she thinks the policy will be a deterrent.
"I don't have all the answers," Wilson said. "I just know it's not right to give the companies taxpayer money if they're hiring illegal immigrants."
A bill in the General Assembly, SB426, may eventually pre-empt the city's efforts, Lilley said.
The bill requires all public contractors and subcontractors to participate in a federal program that allows them to verify Social Security numbers and work eligibility.
Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com
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So what!
As soon as chasing the immigrant workers becomes less fashionable things will go back to how they where before. Wait until they see the prive tag of the new bids! I bet they make the current contractors hire all Americans and then award winning bids based on price to those who do not. The people from south of the border have been brought in for a reason. That will become clear to the localities with performance and price. I am all for booting out the illegals but the American worker needs to step it up.
Immigration Enforcement
I'm fed up with every time I call some Tech Support # or Gov't issued # to hear a recording....."For English, press 1", "For Spanish (spoken in Spanish) press 2". IF YOU DON'T speak fluent and clearly understand English, LEARN the language and "THEN" get a job. As far as Illegal Immigrants are concerned....ID everyone. It's that simple. I'm fed up with other contractors driving by with Mexicans in the back seat (or pickup) and drop them off to do lawn services and then come back and pick them up. I see a BIG problem here. A Verizon Contractor was recently busted for hiring Illegal's on the 2nd Offense! They were the Illegals climbing my back gate to get in my yard to dig trenches for Fiber Cable for Verizon. My wife asked what they were doing in out back yard and the Immigrant said, "Speak to my Supervisor" and pointed to him. Other than that he continued to do work until my wife had to run him out of our back yard.
Illegals are taking the place of AMERICANS that need the work. If an Illegal Immigrant gets pregnant here (awwwww) we feel sorry for her and child and she is given free hospital stay and then because the Baby is born in U.S. he's automatically a citizen so
Why Just The Contractors
Doing contract for the city? Why not ALL contractors in the city and no minimum amount of the contract work being done. I get suspicious when I see dark skinned people mowing the grass on the city media strips, which is work being done for the city. I also get suspicious when I pass a work site on a national holiday and see dark skinned people working and
do not say a word when you pass them walking, yet they were chattering away profusely before I got within ear shot of what they were saying. If we are going to check out contractors, check them ALL out with no minimum amount for those doing work for the city. Let the cops ask whatever they want, because they are already breaking OUR LAWS by being here ILLEGALLY. If they are such nice workers and people as those who defend them then they would have come here in the LEGAL DUE PROCESS inaccordance with OUR FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS.
Nope, faith if being revived
Ms. Alicia seems to think that catching illegals is a bad thing. The jail has tripled its illegal population? Excellent! The police have done their job of catching criminals. Now let's deport them!
These illegals and their defenders like Ms. Alicia taint the reputation and public perception of the multitude of Legal immigrants.
I welcome the economic stimulus and cultural diversity brought by the hard-working immigrants who abide by our laws and come here for a better life. However, the ones who jump the line need to be returned to the back of the line.
It's about time.
It's about time our rights as US citizens are protected. I'm tired of hearing "they're doing jobs Americans won't do", that doesn't fly with me. These illegals take jobs from Americans. It used to be the neighborhood teenager that would cut the grass for a few dollars, now it's the illegal. It used to be a lot of young people just starting out and still unsure of a career would be the one putting the roof on or other construction work, now it's the illegal. Last year's raid on the chicken plants in several areas prooved that the illegals were taking jobs from Americans. The following day lines of citizens were applying for these jobs. To top it all off, when these illegals have kids, we're paying the hospital bills and then their US citizen kid will be taking our kids place in school, college and then the job place. KICK THEM OUT!
Why even discuss it?
Why the $50k dollar amount? It should be ANY contract with the city government. So what if the police are asking? If you don't belong in our country, get out! We don't want you here, you don't belong here, and first and foremost you are doing something illegal. So if you don't want to be asked about your status, leave.
So What Is the Problem
I really do not care if these Illegal Immigrants are offended if Police are asking their immigration status before arresting them. IF YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG THEN YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE AND NO PROBLEMS. People Grow up if you break the law to get here then Yes you should have something to worry about. All of our elected officials should worry more about MY rights that are being abused by peple who HAVE NO RIGHT to be here and NO protection under our laws. OUR LAWS protect UNITED STATES LEGAL CITIZENS not illegal aliens who just decided to break the law and come here. I am sorry if my opinion on this matter offends some people but I spent 20 yrs defending the rights of LEGAL Immigrates and citizens from this and other countries who want to follow the rules and come here right. I have NO SYMPATHY for these law breakers.
Immigration Law enforcement
The Virginia Beach City council should admend the audit process to include any city contract. I understand that their are associated cost; however, let court cost in addition to determined fine(s) and\or jail time be paid by the violator.
Any employer or person known to provide safe harbor to illegal aliens should be prosecuted for violating federal immigration law.