PT-LawMom

Back when the immigration reform bill failed, I predicted that the result would be more cities/counties passing ordinances that try to “fix” the situation. Unfortunately I was right.

The resolution approved unanimously by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors on Tuesday orders police officers to verify the residency status of anyone in custody whom they suspect to be an illegal immigrant. The resolution also seeks to block access to public services and benefits for illegal immigrants, claiming they are causing “economic hardship and lawlessness” in the county. The measures — the toughest in Virginia — apply to all illegal immigrants, but in Prince William that means mostly Hispanics.

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Police and other county agencies have yet to establish procedures for the stepped-up enforcement, but the practical impact was in plain view last week along Route 1 in Woodbridge, a usually busy commercial strip lined with Hispanic-owned businesses.

Markets and restaurants were nearly empty, with slow sales reported at almost a dozen shops and restaurants. “What’s going on?” wondered one manager of a Popeye’s who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Why is it so slow?”

A nearby KFC popular with Hispanics was nearly deserted at lunchtime. Meanwhile, business was booming at Pizza Hut, where the manager reported a spike in home delivery calls.

It will be interesting to see the long-term effects of this measure and how it plays out in terms of legal challenges. I am very concerned about how far these localities will go and just how long it will take to stop them.

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 15th, 2007 at 6:28 pm and is filed under Immigration . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.