VA Counties Target Illegal Immigrants; Libraries May Be Put in a Bind

Jennifer Pinkowski -- Library Journal, 7/31/2007

Librarians in two northern Virginia counties may soon be put in the awkward position of having to check immigration status along with library cards. In mid-July, Prince William and Loudoun counties, just outside of Washington, DC, passed a resolution banning illegal immigrants from a host of public services, including schools, parks, hospitals, and libraries. (Immigration rates doubled between 2000 and 2005 in those counties.)


Libraries were instructed to report back to county officials this fall on how they service the public. They then will receive guidance. “Until the board of supervisors gets back to us, we don’t know what we will do,â€