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Prince William County began its crackdown on illegal immigrants a few weeks ago, and its leaders are already counting the cost in dollars, distrust and disappointment.
Already faced with a serious budget shortfall, supervisors were chagrined to learn that the price tag for a program designed to harass illegal immigrants into fleeing the county has escalated to $6.4 million in its first year.
Supervisors are facing a 1.5-cent boost in their real estate levy to cover the unexpected expense, part of a larger rate increase that is expected to boost the average homeowner's bill by 8 percent this year.
The county is stuck with a bill for $3 million to install and monitor cameras in its 270 police cars. The cameras are needed to protect the county against lawsuits invited by the new rules. The concern is for a rise in racial-profiling accusations as the police comply with a new ordinance that requires them to check the citizenship of anyone caught breaking a law, even a minor traffic offense.
County officials have asked Congress to cover most of the cost, but there's no guarantee federal dollars will be forthcoming. After all, Prince William's entire anti-immigrant program is based on its leaders' assertion that they must assume responsibility for a function that the federal government has failed to accomplish.
Residents of Prince William won't just feel the impact of this regrettable initiative in their wallets. Many of the Hispanic soccer leagues that once livened up county parks and school fields on weekends have moved to other localities or disbanded.
Some of the leagues' players and their families are illegal immigrants. Others are legal residents, but they are angered by the officially sanctioned harassment by Prince William leaders.
Supervisors began their assault on immigrants by insisting their only targets were those in this country illegally. The latest news from Prince William suggests few county residents will be unscathed by their leaders' misguided policy.
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Free Medical care and Schooling
Quote:
"Supervisors began their assault on immigrants by insisting their only targets were those in this country illegally. The latest news from Prince William suggests few county residents will be unscathed by their leaders' misguided policy."
Comment: And your solution to the problem is? Oh,I know just look the other way while they continue to receive free basic medical care and free schooling and Translators for their children,both mandated by Federal law. Relax,it only costs the American tax payers nationwide around 45 billion dollars a year!
immigration status. Calling
immigration status.
Calling a decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals “faulty,” the Supreme Court held that “mere police questioning [regarding one’s immigration status] does not constitute a seizure.” The Court continued its landmark ruling on this issue by stating that “the officers did not need reasonable suspicion to ask Mena for her name, date of birth, or immigration status.”
“Whatever legal fig leaf many police departments have been using to justify policies of non-cooperation with federal immigration authorities, has been stripped away by this landmark Supreme Court decision,”
“If local police are barred from cooperating with federal authorities in the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws it is purely a political decision on the part of local politicians and police chiefs. There is no legal barrier to local police inquiring about a person’s immigration status and then acting upon the information they gather.”
Not True!
The county is stuck with a bill for $3 million to install and monitor cameras in its 270 police cars. The cameras are needed to protect the county against lawsuits invited by the new rules. The concern is for a rise in racial-profiling accusations as the police comply with a new ordinance that requires them to check the citizenship of anyone caught breaking a law, even a minor traffic offense.
Not true!
"Supreme Court Ruling Razes Artificial Fire Wall Between Local Law Enforcement and Immigration Enforcement (Muehler v. Mena) 9-0 Landmark Decision (Washington D.C.—April 1, 2005) In its March 22 ruling in the case of Muehler v. Mena, the Supreme Court removed barriers that prevent local law enforcement officers from questioning the immigration status of individuals they suspect to be in the United States illegally. In this groundbreaking decision, the high Court rejected the claim of Ira Mena, a permanent resident of the U.S., that police had violated the Fourth Amendment while conducting a lawful search of her home.
Calling a decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals “faulty,” the Supreme Court held that “mere police questioning [regarding one’s immigratio