Prince William supervisor would end crackdown on immigrants

Posted by ( MDH3 ) on April 24, 2008 at 7:34 pm

“ We needed and wanted this policy.“

what is this ‘we’?  There were as many people against this resolution as for it.  That it passed was a testament to the cowardice of election-year politics.

I strongly support the rule of law and the enforcement thereof…however, illegal immigration is and has been a federal issue - it should not fall under the purview of local government. 

Take a look at everything being pulled out of this year’s budget.  Those are the things which local government should support - care for those in our ccommunity who cannot care for themselves, public safety, and so on. 

Principi at least has the courage to admit he was wrong.  And the ad hominem attacks of those who oppose him say more about the attackers than the attacked.

Report Inappropriate Comment

Posted by ( madmex ) on April 24, 2008 at 7:24 pm

What the CBOS fail to understand is that they’re fighting a loosing battle against illegal immigrants, they can not break families apart, (blood is thicker then water) and when immigrants get deported, I guarantee you they’ll be back within seven days, no matter where they get sent to, I seen it done people, we have wife and kids here and we are not going to leave them behind. Think about it, will you walk away from your family.
With this law, lots of immigrants, and friends, legal and illegal are leaving the County, and the County is loosing revenues. That’s why the County is broke.
Blame Mr. Stewart for the Police Department not getting their cameras on their vehicles, PD needs these cameras to fight real criminals, not so much chasing hard working people.
The Board outer listen to Mr. Principi he knows that immigrants has a big impact in
PWC Economy and they should revisit this Policy…

Report Inappropriate Comment

Posted by ( Brewsky ) on April 24, 2008 at 2:21 pm

At this point all i can say is “typical woddbridge district supervisor”! Par for the course!

Report Inappropriate Comment

Posted by ( do the right thing ) on April 24, 2008 at 2:04 pm

Supervisor Principi:

  Supervisor Principi represents a district with the highest crime rate, largest number of registered sex offenders living and working in PWC, his district looks like a third world country, and he doesn’t want to do whatever is in his power to protect his citizens from illegal activity.  WOW!  No wonder the illegal immigrants love him!!!!!!!

kgotthardt,

The contacts PWC officers are going to be making with the average citizen are not through the window of a police cruiser. Talk to his officers,  they don’t want the cameras in their cars either.
  If PWC police were not in fear of retaliation from their Chief they would be speaking out.

Report Inappropriate Comment

Posted by ( PWCMom ) on April 24, 2008 at 1:33 pm

The BOS voted unanimously to implement the policy due to the public outcry of citizens of this county and the lack of the Fed’s action on this issue. Mr. Principi should READ the papers and their underlying reader comments, emails and letters concerning the issue.  Most legal citizens are in favor of the resolution; in fact, some feel it does not go far enough.

Chief Deane’s report concerning the people detained in the first month of implementation specifically stated that most would have been sent to jail anyway for some violation or another.  They would have incurred the cost of housing as a result of their criminal violation, so I fail to see where there would be supposed “savings”, as Mr. Principi is using for his argument for repeal.

Further, Mr. Principi has publicly stated that “ ...police need to check a person’s citizenship status on the street when it would be checked automatically once the person is brought to the jail under a federal policy that went into effect in the summer.“  Sir, legal status checks are only done when the officer has probable cause to do so, and probable cause is triggered by a violation of criminal or traffic laws.  The check is done as a part of the an investigation, not randomly; therefore, there is no additional or random enforcement and no further officer time expended unless there is a criminal or traffic violation associated. 

I believe that any revisit or repeal of the resolution will only serve to divide this county even further.  The resolution was already voted on and approved. So, Mr. Principi and the BOS should MOVE ON. 

Regarding the cost, yes, it does cost money to implement the resolution, but perhaps the Board should look at cuts in other programs which may not be enjoying the same success before suggesting scrapping one that is.  The statistics show the resolution is working -it has gotten illegal immigrants who violate criminal and traffic laws off the street and into the arms of ICE.  That is what the majority of the citizens of this county want. If ICE is slow in picking up people from the jail, Mr. Principi, then how about personally leading an comprehensive effort to work with ICE to resolve the problem rather than use it as a reason for repeal? There are better ways of addressing an issue rather than publicly calling for its demise because you just don’t like it!

To revisit or undo this resolution brings us back to the very same place we were before.  We need supervisors who have the courage and backbone to take and maintain a proactive stance to resolve the issue, and we will stand for nothing less.

Report Inappropriate Comment