Thread: Loudoun (VA) Approves Measure

Loudoun Looks to Discourage Illegal Immigration
July 17, 2007 - 6:32am

Hank Silverberg, WTOP Radio

WASHINGTON - Will Loudoun County, Va., follow Prince William County's lead and crack down on illegal immigrants the same way?

Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio wants Loudoun to model its policy after the one passed in Prince William last week.

He says the county has to do something to discourage illegal immigrants from settling in Loudoun County.

"Why not ask if they are here in the United States legally?"

The aim of the resolution to be introduced Tuesday would be to deny county services to illegal immigrants and make it easier to deport those who have broken other laws.

Delgaudio, who says illegal immigrants are eating up county resources, won't site specific examples, other than to say the county has budgeted $600,000 for enforcement on overcrowding issues.

"Part of my concern about the Prince William resolution and people copycatting it is that it is based on fallacy," says Claire Guthrie Gastanaga, a representative of the Virginia Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

She says that other than schools, illegal immigrants get little in services.

"People who are not here legally and, in fact, many legal immigrants are not eligible for federal Medicaid or federal welfare benefits or any of those public benefits."

(Copyright 2007 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Hank Silverberg, WTOP Radio

(Copyright 2007 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=600&sid=1191187

I think Mr. Delgaudio has a good idea-nip the problem in the bud BEFORE it gets to be so huge.Maybe if other towns that don't have much of a problem
(yet) enacted laws pre-emptively it would discourage them from settling there in the first place.

If VA is like my state, my ninety percent of property taxes go to the public school system that is overcrowded, causing these taxes to be increased annually. Due to the overcrowding the quality of education for children of LEGAL TAXPAYING CITIZENS has diminished to being one of the worst in the country. This is because basic subjects can not be taught because the children of ILLEGAL ALIENS must be taught ENGLISH. Now the LEGAL TAXPAYING CITIZENS must send there children to private schools and now be burdened with costly tuition payments. Because the majority of ILLEGAL ALIENS are are un educated and stupid the LEGAL AMERICAN CITIZENS must pick up the tab. Also keep in mind that the average LEGAL AMERICAN CITIZEN usually can not afford to pay for a private school. So now the children of the LEGAL AMERICAN CITIZENS are suffering because of children who DO NOT BELONG HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE! But they only use our schools.

Hi ChicagoEd-Welcome to Ailpac! You made a good point with the schools,I live here in Northern VA. and people here could at one time brag about how good the schools were.We finally got a brand new high school built about 3 years ago and now there appears to be possibly 7 trailers outside to accomodate the students.I have a friend who drives a school bus for the county and she says the spanish speaking students get bused to a SPECIAL school where they are taught in spanish first then english.My husband and I
have already decided when we have children to either send them to private school (if affordable) or homeschool.

Absolutely on the diminshed education for American children.

As for the person's statement that 'they get no freebies' - who is that person trying to kid?

Of course, I have heard that before. It is, I think, one of LaRaza's talking points. I have run head on into that one before. They hope some people don't know and they can convince them.

First it is, 'They don't get benefits'

Response, "Of course they do."

'Only American citizens can get benefits.'

Response, 'Just stand around in a grocery store, or behind one of them getting baskets full of groceries with a WIC card or watch them pull out the Lone Start Card. Better yet, work in a grocery store - a real eyeopener.'

'Well, if they are getting benefits, you need to report it. If you don't report it, it is your fault.'

Loudoun May Pass Anti-Illegal Immigrant Measure
Resolution Would Limit Illegal Residents' Access to Services

By Sandhya Somashekhar
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 17, 2007; 1:12 PM

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is expected to pass a resolution today curbing illegal immigrants' access to county services.

The resolution, similar to one that passed unanimously in Prince William County a week ago, was sponsored jointly by the six Republicans on the nine-member board's.

"We are trying to begin the process of trying to save money by our taxpayers," said Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling), who announced the last-minute effort at a news conference this morning.

Details were not immediately available but if it is patterned after Prince William's, the resolution could be among the strongest anti-illegal immigrant measures adopted by local governments in the nation.

At the board meeting this morning, several people spoke in favor of the resolution. Joe Budzinski, who was active in the effort to oppose a day labor center in Herndon, applauded the board for taking up the controversial issue, which he said has been ignored by the federal government.

Budzinski said that neighborhoods have become "blighted" as a result of an unbridled influx of illegal immigrants.

"We have to ask, 'Who represents us?' " he told the supervisors. "Here, today, you do."

But one speaker said she worried about the "chilling effect" the legislation could have on victims of crime. Jeanne L. Smoot, public policy director of the Tahirih Justice Center in Falls Church, said some of the women and girls that the organization assists are already too afraid to seek justice because of Prince William's action.

"Today I ask for your compassion," she said, asking the board to ensure that "you don't leave the women and girls we serve outside that circle of protection."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 97_pf.html

Virginia's on a roll isn't it? Good for them!

Good video at the source link.
~~~

Board Looks To Deny County Services To Illegals
By Dusty Smith

(Created: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 5:23 PM EDT)



[Update] The Loudoun Board of Supervisors today unanimously approved a measure to direct County Administrator Kirby M. Bowers to determine what services the county can deny to illegal immigrants.

The measure does not bar any services immediately, but signals the county's intent to restrict illegal immigrants from using taxpayer-funded services provided for county residents.

Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling) introduced the measure.

"We're at fault if we reward lawbreaking with free tax-funded services," he said, adding that all he seeks with the measure is to answer the question: "Are there ways to simply say no within the law, that's it."

He said this is the next step for Loudoun, which previously approved an ordinance that targeted illegal immigrants who are filling single-family homes in Sterling that have been converted to apartments, sometimes using backyards as restrooms.

"We are struggling. Help save Loudoun," Delgaudio said. "It's coming to your neighborhood soon. It's in Sterling Park."

Bowers also was directed to investigate whether the county can withhold business license or permits from employers found to be hiring undocumented workers.

The initiative is based on similar action taken by a unanimous Prince William County Board of Supervisors last week.

The resolution recognizes the benefits and significance of legal immigration in the building of the country, but states that the board has determined "that illegal immigration is causing economic hardship and lawlessness."

The resolution suggested that county agencies, by not aggressively verifying the immigration status of individuals in advance of providing services, is encouraging illegal immigration. That comment spurred objections from supervisors who questioned whether the statement was true.

Supervisor Jim Burton (I-Blue Ridge) and Sally R. Kurtz (D-Catoctin) said they preferred to delay action on the resolution, which was distributed to the full board this morning, until the board could meet with County Attorney John R. Roberts and better evaluate the ramifications of the action.

One action sought in the resolution-that the sheriff's office enter into a formal agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to permit deputies to enforce federal immigration laws-is already in process, County Chairman Scott K. York (I-At Large) said.

While Delgaudio is the loudest cheerleader for the action, Supervisors Mick Staton (R-Sugarland Run), Bruce Tulloch (R-Potomac), Steve Snow (R-Dulles), Jim Clem (R-Leesburg) and Lori Waters (R-Broad Run) signed on as co-sponsors.

Additionally, Republican candidate for sheriff Greg Alhemann spoke to the board this morning to urge passage. He said the lack of an aggressive approach to the community impact of illegal immigration played a key role in his upset victory over three-term incumbent Stephen O. Simpson during the GOP convention last month. Alhemann also said the county should avoid contracts with companies that employee illegal aliens, citing towing companies and carwashes as two areas of concern.

Another speaker this morning raised concerns that a focus on illegal immigration could deter crime victims or witnesses from coming forward to authorities.

http://www.leesburg2day.com/articles/20 ... 071707.txt