Thread: Judge dismisses illegal immigration lawsuit

PWC immigration lawsuit dismissed

Prince William County Chairman Corey Stewart, shown at his home in this file photo taken Feb. 10, said the court's decision was a major setback for critics of the anti-immigration laws the county recently passed. Nov 30, 2007 11:40 AM (6 hrs ago) by Dan Genz, The Examiner
WASHINGTON (Map, News) - A federal district court judge threw out the first civil rights lawsuit against Prince William County's illegal immigration crackdown today, saying the plaintiffs did not have standing to sue.

Judge James C. Cacheris' decision in a 30-minute hearing was a huge blow to the critics of the plan who were trying to have it overturned.

Prince William County Attorney Ross Horton said the county was diligent in creating a policy allowing local officers to check the residency status of suspected illegal immigrants would be fair and constitutional.

"This is an important issue and it deserves a lot of careful thought and input and obviously we are doing that," Horton said.

After the county's victory, Horton told the plaintiffs' attorneys the county would be diligent in making sure the law was fair.

An obviously disappointed Woodbridge immigrant leader, Ricardo Juarez, kissed fellow Mexicanos sin Fronteras coordinator Nancy Lyall on the forehead as they stepped out of the courtroom.

Despite having the high-profile suit immediately dismissed, Eduardo Ferrer, a lawyer for a group of 22 Hispanic residents suing to have the laws overturned called it a "minor setback."

Prince William County Chairman Corey Stewart replied: "It reminds me of Baghdad Bob saying, 'hey, don't mind those American M-1 tanks rolling by, we have everything under control.'

"This is a major setback for the critics of the resolution and it's a big win for Prince William County."

The challenge, led by the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Woodbridge Workers Committee, will not be the last, said Ferrer, presenting the case for the Howrey law firm.

"We will continue to monitor the situation," he said. "I think [Judge Cacheris] felt these were not the right people to sue."

But Stewart said the dismissal will send a signal the county's plan, though controversial, is constitutional and a model worth replicating elsewhere.

Because the county's crackdown is still months away from taking effect, other groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union had said they would monitor the effort before making a decision to sue.

Cacheris said he would make a formal written ruling in the case soon.

dgenz@dcexaminer.com

http://www.examiner.com/a-1077871~Judge ... hington_DC

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