Stewart blames Congress for illegal immigration

By KEITH WALKER
kwalker@potomacnews.com.
Friday, September 7, 2007
http://www.potomacnews.com/servlet/Sate ... 7841&path=

Prince William Chairman Corey A. Stewart told a congressional subcommittee that Congress wasn't doing its job.

Stewart was a witness at the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and Internal Law Thursday on Capital Hill.

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, asked Stewart what he would have Congress do to help local jurisdictions deal with illegal immigration.

Stewart, who was asked to speak as a witness for the subcommittee because of Prince William County's attempts to crack down on illegal immigration, told King that he would like Congress to give local jurisdictions the authority to detain and arrest illegal immigrants, fine employers who hire illegal immigrants and fine landlords who rent to illegal immigrants.

Stewart told the panel that by law police couldn't arrest and hold illegal immigrants unless they have committed another crime.

Stewart also told the panel that the people of Prince William County welcome legal immigrants.

"Illegal immigration drains the quality of life in our community," he said.

Stewart said that according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, one-third of all gang membership is made of illegal immigrants. He also said that 20 percent of the inmates at the Prince William-Manassas regional jail were illegal immigrants.

"We are on the front line of this problem; the localities, businesses and local taxpayers have to pay for the problem," he said.

Then he let loose and told the panel members, face-to-face, what he's been saying since the Prince William Board of County Supervisors passed a proposal for a resolution to deny county services to illegal immigrants in July.

"What caused the problem is you," he said. "It's the federal government's failure to enforce the law."

Stewart told the panel that the federal government's failure to secure the border also contributes to the problem.

Then he asked the panel for help. "We are asking for your support to crack down on illegal immigration," he said.

None of the other subcommittee members had questions for Stewart.

Sharon Pandak, who is running as a Democrat against Stewart for the Prince William County chairman's seat, said it's about time someone spoke to Congress about the illegal immigration problem, but wondered why Stewart didn't prevail on Congress earlier.

"It is long overdue that Prince William County finds its way to Capitol Hill on this important issue," Pandak said in a recent news release.

"The delay in drawing the president's and Congress' attention to their failure to do anything on a matter which has become so bitterly divisive locally is a mystery to me," she said.

Pandak said the county must "confront" illegal immigration.

"I will do all that I can to support our public safety personnel and to keep our communities safe. We must stop gang violence. I will not, however, sacrifice our public safety trying to solve an immigration issue which the federal government created or by letting the Congress continue to ignore the burden that it has shifted to county citizens by its utter failure to meet its responsibilities," Pandak said.