Apparently Pat Herrity is rather contemptuous of PWC’s handling of

According to the DC Examiner, Fairfax Chair-hopeful Pat Herrity pretty much relegated illegal immigration to a less than important position on the Fairfax County political spectrum. An economic crisis and a $500 million dollar budget shortfall seem to be taking up all the attention of the leadership of our neighbors to the north.

Herrity was rather critical of PWC.

Herrity on Thursday criticized as “mean-spirited” the policies of Prince William, which in fiscal 2008 turned over more suspected
Illegal immigrants to federal authorities than any other government in the region. The measures led to an exodus of Hispanic residents.

“I don’t think they looked out for the legal immigrants,” Herrity said Thursday. “They were perceived as attacking immigrants period, versus making the strong distinction between illegal and legal.”

At the same time, he leveled charges of inaction at his own board. Herrity said illegal immigration has brought about “significant budget impacts,” and he criticized supervisors for taking years to begin combating illegal boarding houses.

Not to be upstaged, Corey Stewart, Chairman of PWC BOCS retorted, calling Herrity’s comments disappointing and surprising:

“He’s got to do what he thinks he’s got to do in order to win,” he said. “That’s kind of an ignorant statement to make, frankly.”

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While I don’t necessarily agree that the Immigration Resolution had that much impact on the situation in PWC, I find it disturbing that other jurisdictions have the perceptions that they have.

How odd that this article should appear today, in light of the debate raging on Anti. Here’s a new thread for its continuation. Do you feel the Resolution did, in fact, drive off Hispanics, legal or illegal, or was it the economy and the jobs drying up? Did PWC fail to distinguish between legal and illegal in their operations?

[Thanks to Censored for sending the article my way.]

18 Thoughts to “Is Perception Reality?”

  1. ShellyB

    It’s a fact that Corey Stewart’s deranged leadership into a ditch has led us into a ditch. Of course he will go on spinning the facts another way. He’ll go on doing this until he dies. It’s not a coincidence that people all over Virginia and the whole area are becoming aware of the sad reality that Corey Stewart has brought to this county. That’s what happens when people try to suppress the truth. It gradually comes out.

    Sucks to be you, Corey Stewart.

  2. JustinT

    Herrity didn’t have to relegate the issue, that’s where it belongs. Local government has no business poking itself in the economic eye over a federal issue.

  3. Lucky Duck

    The problem with the resolution, (In my opinion) is that it went beyond the 287 (G) program and involved people that merely came into or do come into contact with the local police department. There have been several “soccer moms” detained and they have been entered into the federal system with no easy way out. By doing so, it has cut off a sizeable group of the citizens who fear or are at least hesitant to contact the police for virtually any situation. Some families have “mixed” status members and when one member is detained, well, the whole family is affected. So now, that population simply ignores the police or works around them as best they can. Yes, it did drive a segment of our population out of the county. They did not want to take the chance of a police encounter.

    I can’t imagine anyone supporting people who are not here legally who commit crimes being release back into the community, so the 287 (G) at the jail seems to have support from a cross section of the County. But our present Chairperson make us look terrible or throwbacks from decades ago by his behavior and actions. He seems to delight in such behavior that divides us as a community.

    Having said or written the above, I do believe that our rule of law resolution was written in a mean spirited fashion. I do not support illegal immigration but I do support legal immigration (as the grandchild of legal immigrants), yet I understand those who enter for the benefit of their children – the human element as Elena so clearly states it.

    It will be extremely interesting to see how the next administration deals with this issue.

  4. Moon-howler

    Lucky Duck, thank you for your well-thought out response. Your posts always add real depth to the discussion. I agree with you 100%, once again. You just say it so well.

  5. Not Me, Bubba

    Stewart said this: “While I don’t necessarily agree that the Immigration Resolution had that much impact on the situation in PWC”

    Are you kidding me???? I though the resolution helped save the schools 8 mil…crime was down and life was better in general!

    So what is it? It had a profund impact or not? If anyone is looking to appease his constituents…Stirrp…meet Kettle.

  6. Moon-howler

    Not Me, Bubba, I am sorry, while reading your comment I realized that a character got left off the blockquotijng. Corey Stewart did not say that, I did. I have corrected the blockquoting error.

    Sorry again for the confusion.

  7. Elena

    Lucky Duck,
    That was truly beautiful and thoughtful, thank you. If we could start from THAT place and work towards solutions, I truly believe we could resolve this issue.

    And NotMeBubba, you hit the nail on the head. You can’t brag about driving people away, i.e less ESOL etc, and not also take responsiblity for the total impact. Sort of like the pebble in the pond analogy. Throw a pebble it and it creates a ripple effect.

  8. Juturna

    Wow!! Verra well put Lucky Duck. David Brooks, Mark Shields and David Gergen all in one!

    Funny how some folks can see far reaching impacts so quickly and others can’t.

  9. Censored bybvbl

    Lucky Duck, this is slightly off-topic. What happens to the names of those people fed into the federal database? Are they (the names) retained even though they may be legal residents? IOW, are PWC and Virginia residents at greater risk of having their names made part of some database than residents of jurisdictions without a 287(g) program? If I remember correctly, only about 60 jurisdictions nationwide participate in 287(g).

  10. TWINAD

    Lucky Duck,

    As usual, an informative and well thought out post. Thanks.

  11. Lucky Duck

    Thank you.

    Censored, if they are legal residents, they are not entered into ICE’s database because they have demonstrated legal residency. If they are illegal or undocumented, their names are reported to ICE under the 287 (G) program and a file is established under their names by ICE. If they are released pending a court date, their name is placed into NCIC (National Criminal Information Center) database so if they encounter any law enforcement agency anywhere in the US, the fact that they are under ICE’s supervison is made known. In fact, anyone who is not legally here and has failed to show for a court date with immigration has their name in NCIC under ICE.

    So, yes, if you are not here legally and you live in a jurisdiction that has 287 (G) you are much more likely to have an encounter with ICE The locals do not enter the information into the National database, the organization that places the charges (in this case, ICE) is required to enter the information.

    Sorry if I confused you but I hope I answered your question.

  12. Censored bybvbl

    Lucky Duck, thanks for the info. Another question – if a citizen is arrested without ID (perhaps has no drivers license or other identification on him/her), what is done to determine his/her identification or nationality? Is that person’s name (once detemined or given) entered into any database that it is different from whatever was used prior to enactment of the 287(g) program? IOW, are arrested citizens treated any differently than they were prior to 287(g) or are their names entered into any database that wasn’t used prior to enactment of the 287(g) program? I guess I’m wondering what would happen to a Virginian who was stopped for drunk driving, had no ID, and gave a false name. Does that arrest now subject that person in any way to having his/her name entered into any federal database that wasn’t used prior to 287(g)?

  13. Slowpoke Rodriguez

    Sometimes perception is twisted by mental illness and inability to learn, as is usually the case in Fairfax county. So for every special-needs BOCS chairman Fairfax county promotes, there’s another one right behind to continue the void.

  14. Lucky Duck

    If a person is arrested without identification, they will not be released until it is proven who they are. This takes place regardless of citizenship or status. The Magistrates Office nor the Court system wil release until identification is made. The reasoning behind this is obvious – why release someone to appear in court later when you don’t know who they are? Identification is a condition of release and has been upheld by numerous court decisions.

    That person without ID will be fingerprinted to check if they have any on file. If they have ID at home, someone can bring it to the ADC or Court appearance to prove ID. Most people have at least one form of ID that can be presented at some point in the process.

    No, a legal resident of Virginia who is arrested for DWI without ID will not be put into the 287(G) program or turned over to ICE. Only AFTER it has been determined by ADC personnel that the person is illegally in the US is ICE contacted.. Identification of an illegal alien is necessary prior to ICE being notified of their location. However, if, after repreated attempts to identify someone proved negative, the ADC could expand their efforts to include asking Feds for assistance.If that person gave a false name and it was discovered (it always is eventually), they would face additional criminal charges.

    Arrested citizens are treated the same as they were prior to 287 (G), the key word is “Citizens”. Those here illegally or undocumented will have little or no chance to clear the 287(G) program without ICE being notified of their incarceration.

  15. Moon-howler

    Thanks for the explanation, Lucky Duck.

    Let’s go down that slippery slope for a moment. What if the person is not commiting a crime. What if a person is a passenger in a car? Must they have an ID? Does anyone know?

  16. Do you feel the Resolution did, in fact, drive off Hispanics, legal or illegal

    YES. Both.

    Did PWC fail to distinguish between legal and illegal in their operations?

    YES and they still are. Read the letter by Mr. Kesser here in which he says of his NEW tax benefit requirements when “illegals” have NOT been using up program monies anyway.

    “This is discrimination, pitting one class of people against another. It also creates a hardship for the elderly and disabled who have to try and navigate the terrible parking conditions and who must waste their time proving themselves legal. ”

    http://www.insidenova.com/isn/news/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/article/if_you_think_im_illegal_you_prove_it/24605/

  17. Censored bybvbl

    Lucky Duck, thanks again for the info. My concern was that citizens’ names might become entered into a database because of the adoption of 287(g), a database that they wouldn’t be subjected to without 287(g). It appears that’s not a concern.

  18. Lucky Duck

    Hi Moon-Howler, if a person is not committing a crime yet comes into contact with the police as you describe, there information can be taken by the officer and turned over to ICE through the Criminal Alien Unit. The resolution policy gives the officer discretion regarding an inquiry into immigration status in that situation. The mandatory questioning is not in play as the person is not under arrest. However, the present policy permits the officer to inquire of the person’s status. And by the way, there is a federal statute that states this is permitted.

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