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Official: Immigration crackdown pushes down crime

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Corey Stewart

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AP
Published: June 30, 2008

MANASSAS, Va. (AP) _ A Prince William County official is attributing a decline in certain types of crime last year to the county’s crackdown on illegal immigrants.

A study released last week says homicides declined by 44 percent from 2006 to 2007. The incidence of rape fell 33 percent, robberies declined 23 percent, and aggravated assaults declined 18 percent.

County board Chairman Corey Stewart says the decrease is due to the resolutions cracking down on illegal immigrants in the county.

The county first started discussing the issue last summer, though no policy changes went into effect until this year.

Nancy Lyall of the immigrant advocacy group Mexicans Without Borders says many crimes are simply going unreported now because immigrants are afraid to go to police.

Reader Reactions

Posted by ( zcxnissan ) on June 30, 2008 at 5:52 pm

Keep up the good work Corey, if the Federal Govt. won’t do it the local government can legally. LOL Chris Cummings

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Posted by ( sf ) on June 30, 2008 at 3:49 pm

Good work, PWC Supervisors and City of Manassas. Keep doing what you are doing and we will be the safest County in the area. Now if the police would turn more attention to loitering; specifically, at the Coverstone 7/11. Who owns the building whose property they stand around on? Perhaps ‘NO TRESPASSING’ signs (in English only) should be erected. The erosion of the hillside where the illegals sit around is a shame. Why are the police not moving them along instead of allowing the loitering, and all that goes with it?

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Posted by ( kgotthardt ) on June 30, 2008 at 3:26 pm

One more statistical point to think about: with the number of foreclosures we have had and with the numbers of people moving out of the county, it seems no matter what the citizen status of those who moved, crime would drop because we simply have fewer people living here.

What say you, Chief Deane?

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Posted by ( kgotthardt ) on June 30, 2008 at 3:24 pm

“I am trying to figure out how a policy that wasn’t implemented until 2008 can be used to promote decrease in 2007 numbers.“

Duane, glad I wasn’t the only one noticing this. Again, we get the propaganda and lack of critical thinking when it comes to the effects of the resolution.

Someone should ask Chief Deane how he interprets the stats. I would be VERY curious.

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Posted by ( raywilliams ) on June 30, 2008 at 2:56 pm

Another reason to support my suggested Documented Illegal Immigrant card where illegal immigrants can become documented illegals by providing finger prints and DNA samples and undergo police background checks. This way we know who the people are living in our communities. Welcome back cobra - good, restful vacation?

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Posted by ( Advocator ) on June 30, 2008 at 2:50 pm

We’ve still got a lot of work to do folks. All of you interested in cleaning out the illegal invaders should help in this endeavor. Report overcrowded houses to Neighborhood Services. Report cars obviously belonging to residents and licensed out of state or without county decals to the police. Make them get back to you with the results.

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Posted by ( djpwc ) on June 30, 2008 at 12:20 pm

Because it was voted on in July 2007 and some of the illegals started leaving then.

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Posted by ( DuaneNoVA ) on June 30, 2008 at 11:38 am

I apologize for the repeat. Apparently the moderator took a long lunch and I wondered if my post was canned.

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Posted by ( DuaneNoVA ) on June 30, 2008 at 11:32 am

Please tell me how a policy implemented in 2008 affected crime statistics from 2007.

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Posted by ( goinlow ) on June 30, 2008 at 11:11 am

It would be nice to get some numbers from PW Hospital, as well.