This may be going on right now.
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Prince William Expected To Vote On Illegal Immigrant Plan
Hundreds Show Up At Public Hearing

POSTED: 7:49 pm EDT October 16, 2007
UPDATED: 7:56 pm EDT October 16, 2007


PRINCE WILLIAM, Va. -- The Prince William County Board of Supervisors is expected to vote Tuesday night on a resolution to deny some services to illegal immigrants.

The policy would be one of the toughest in the country and has already been met with protests, boycotts and a federal lawsuit.

Hundreds of people showed up at a public hearing on the matter Tuesday afternoon. About 235 signed up to speak on the issue.

Opponents staged a rally outside the public hearing. Many of those who spoke at the public hearing said they have already faced discrimination because of the proposal.

"I come ask you why you hate every Spanish peoples," said Delmy Barrientos.

"Just be strong enough to stand up to the small, extremist groups that are promoting all of this hate," said opponent Nancy Lyall. "Just be strong enough to stand up against them and say, 'No. We're not going to fund it.'"

Supporters said illegal immigrants are ruining their quality of life and jeopardizing their safety.

"Don't ever forget 9/11," said Janet Rosenthal. "And who is responsible for 9/11? Illegals."

"If you vote down these provisions for enforcement, you will be both complicit and duplicitous in the promoting of lawlessness and the continued theft of our county's resources and the degradation of our quality of life," said James Rippe.

The board has already approved a policy under which police must check the residency of people who are arrested or pulled over if it is suspected they are illegal immigrants. Tuesday night, they are expected to vote on funding of about $14 million over five years.

The board also is expected to decide whether to deny some county services to illegal immigrants. News4's Julie Carey reported that services like health and schooling can not be denied.

"There are significant amount of services that at the end of the day that will be denied to illegal immigrants," said Board Chairman Corey Stewart.

The resolution has been revised, and the final version has not been made public.

http://www.nbc4.com/news/14355672/detail.html