Thread: PWC - Data prompts more debate on illegal immigrants

WASHINGTON (AP) - People on both sides of the immigration debate say new arrest data from Prince William County proves their case about the county's controversial illegal immigration enforcement policy.

Recently released statistics show about 2 percent of people charged last year with major violent crimes were illegal immigrants, but they were apprehended for a greater number of minor offenses.

Among its results, the crime report found that major crime plummeted nearly 22 percent in 2008, and less than 5 percent of people charged with major property crimes such as burglary were in the country unlawfully. No illegal immigrants were charged with robbery or murder.

However, police said illegal immigrants made up about 21 percent of prostitution arrests, about 14 percent of those charged with driving without a license and almost 11 percent of people arrested for public drunkenness.

The data covers the first 10 months of the county's enforcement policy, which took effect in March 2008 and requires police to check the legal status of everyone taken into custody for an alleged local or state crime.

"I think what the stats show is the effectiveness of the program," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart, who pushed for the policy.

"There were a series of very serious crimes, high-profile crimes committed by illegal aliens" prior to the policy, he said. "Frankly, illegal immigrants have done one of two things: They have either left the county, or they simply are being very careful not to commit any crimes and end up in jail."

Immigrant advocates such as Nancy Lyall disagree.

Lyall, legal coordinator for the immigrant advocacy group Mexicans Without Borders, contends the data shows that unauthorized immigrants don't pose a major safety threat. She added that undocumented immigrants are unlikely criminals because they don't want to draw attention to themselves.

"This is what we have said all along, before the resolution was even passed," she said. "The reality was these lawmakers needed an election issue. They needed something to get people riled up about."

Lyall added that the estimated $10.5 million budgeted for authorities to run the illegal immigration enforcement program over five years could be better spent.

Meanwhile, Police Chief Charlie Deane said the county's immigration policy has made some effect, but he's banking on conclusive results to come from a two-year study by the University of Virginia.


(Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1648113

Maybe this is true for Prince William County, but...

What about California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, all on the front line of illegal immigration where million dollar drug busts, kidnappings, sex slavery, hit and run drunk driving are becoming commonplace illegal alien crimes.