Immigrants plan march against Va county's policies

February 16, 2009 11:35 AM ET

MANASSAS PARK, Va. (AP) - Immigrants in Prince William County are planning to march to protest county policies they say have torn apart families, caused racial tension and made them fearful of reporting crimes.

Organizers with the group Mexicans Without Borders say they expect about 500 people to march Monday afternoon from a Manassas Park shopping center to the county courthouse.

Protesters say they will call on lawmakers to rescind a nearly year-old policy that, in part, allows local police to enforce federal immigration law. They say the policy, which drew national attention, has torn apart families and created tension between Hispanic immigrants and police.

Organizers also say they plan to demand justice for a woman who says she was beaten by a police officer earlier this month because she's Hispanic and doesn't speak English.


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