Reid criticizes Kaine on immigration

Tuesday, Oct 02, 2007 - 01:36 PM Updated: 02:12 PM

One of the General Assembly's most vocal foes to illegal immigration this morning criticized Gov. Timothy M. Kaine for lacking leadership in tackling the matter and said it could become a key issue in the legislative elections.

Del. John S. Reid, R-Henrico, who is not seeking reelection after 18 years in the House of Delegates, also took Kaine to task for what he called manipulation by the chief executive over the selection of a chairman for the newly created Virginia Commission on Immigration.

A moderate Republican, state Sen. John Watkins of Chesterfield, was named chairman over Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William, a conservative who sponsored the legislation to create the panel.

"Virginia, because of a lack of executive leadership, is becoming a sanctuary state resulting in overcrowded schools, additional demands for English as a Second Language teachers and stresses on hospital emergency rooms providing primary health care for more and more people," Reid said at a Capitol Square news conference this morning.

"It is my hope that the voters across the state will demand that the candidates for all 140 legislative seats clarify where they stand on the issue of illegal immigration and vote accordingly," Reid said.

The election is Nov. 6.

Kevin Hall, Kaine's spokesman, called Reid's assertions "insulting" and said the state has been working in collaboration with federal officials to crack down on illegal immigrants.

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