Illegal Workers On GOP Agenda

Albo said he wants to bar illegal immigrants from using any taxpayer-supported day-laborer centers anywhere in the state. Albo and Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick (R-Prince William), who also appeared at yesterday's event, are in the midst of competitive reelection campaigns. Albo is facing challenger Gregory A. Werkheiser (D), and Frederick's opponent is a popular Prince William supervisor, Hilda M. Barg (D-Woodbridge).

Albo said his legislation would require day-laborer centers to check the status of all clients. Such a measure would affect the Shirlington Employment and Education Center, which has operated in relative harmony in Arlington for the past two years.

If officials there do not want to check the immigration status of workers, Albo said, "we'll take them to court and shut it down."

Arlington County Board Chairman Jay Fisette (D) said the county's day-laborer center is legal, and he accused the Republicans of playing election-week politics.

"I would say it was somewhat predictable that we would hear something like this the week before the election," Fisette said, calling the proposed legislation "mean-spirited."

Shortly before the Republican event, Tejada and other Latino leaders gathered at a church in Arlington to decry the "negative tone" of the debate, saying immigrants are being made "scapegoats for all that ails Virginia."

"We're just tired and don't want to take it anymore, in the sense of focusing on the negative," Tejada said.

The group's members stopped short of criticizing Republican leaders -- or Kilgore -- by name, saying they wanted to keep the event "nonpartisan" and focus on the success of local Latinos.