Thread: Lines Drawn In Immigration Battle

Lines Drawn In Immigration Battle

POSTED: 6:25 pm EDT August 26, 2007
UPDATED: 9:06 pm EDT August 26, 2007
http://www.nbc4.com/news/13979041/detail.html

MANASSAS, Va. -- A delegate from Northern Virginia is proposing new legislation aimed at cracking down on illegal immigrants.

Prince William County Republican Jeff Frederick announced his plan on the eve of an immigrant boycott of county businesses.

Frederick said his bill would cut state funding to local governments that do not check the immigration status of residents who receive public assistance.

Jurisdictions that don't comply would lose all their state funding - including transportation and economic development dollars.

Prince William is among several Virginia counties taking a tough stand against illegal immigrants by denying government services. Now activists are planning to flex their economic muscle in protest.

The boycott begins Monday and targets popular places like Potomac Mills Mall. Several dozen protestors plan to march there Monday afternoon.

"Our goal is to show the immigrant community has economic power and if it's taken away it will have an impact on the community," said John Steinbach, an activist with the group Mexicans Without Borders. "We don't want to hurt anybody."

Owners of the Woodbridge Laundromat said immigrants -- both legal and illegal -- make up as much as half their customers.

Some merchants in the county are putting up posters in the windows saying they are pro-immigrant.

But county officials and state lawmakers said they doubt the boycott will make much of a difference.

"The fact of the matter is, taxpayers are paying a fortune for illegal immigrants in the community and they shouldn't be here," Frederick said. "I think if there's businesses that cater to that community, then they'll feel an impact. [For] everyone else I, it'll be a non-event."

They're going to protest at a mall on a Monday afternoon-WOW-way to get a lot of people's attention, a much better idea than going on a Sat. or Sun. but, then again they might be avoiding those days so they won't have to deal with all the people that would be against them.




Head 'em up,move 'em out Rawhide!

"The fact of the matter is, taxpayers are paying a fortune for illegal immigrants in the community and they shouldn't be here," Frederick said. "I think if there's businesses that cater to that community, then they'll feel an impact. [For] everyone else I, it'll be a non-event."

Well spoken and in your face, illegals. Go boycott your leech of a country.