Citing Cost, Prince William Delays Immigrant Measures

As in July, yesterday's board meeting brought out raw emotions on both sides of the immigration debate. A large group rallied outside before the meeting in opposition to the policies, then filled the board chambers and the lobby. Several speakers who objected to the measures drew loud applause and were sternly hushed by Stewart, who threatened to clear the room to restore order.

More than three dozen speakers addressed the board, some trembling with emotion as they denounced the policies as racist or explained how illegal immigrants had negatively affected their lives. The organization Mexicans Without Borders, which opposes Prince William's policy, gave the board an oven-size cardboard box containing what they said were 7,000 letters urging the resolution's repeal.

On the other side, the group Help Save Manassas, which claims 1,800 local members and has pushed hard for the crackdown, pressed the supervisors to move forward.

"You must support this resolution, and if you do not, the consequences electorally will be dire, and I can guarantee that," said the group's president, conservative blogger Greg Letiecq.

But when it came to the nuts and bolts of how to pay for and enforce the policy, the supervisors could not agree. For example, they were split over which county services should be denied to illegal immigrants.

Supervisors had given county staff members 90 days to study which services could be lawfully withheld. The staff report is an exhaustive study with a detailed exploration of the legal and practical complications of implementing the measures.

The report recommended cutting off illegal immigrants' access to homeless intervention programs, some senior citizen care and tax relief programs for the elderly and disabled, as well as access to business licenses and other services.

But the report did not back more aggressive restrictions on services such as libraries or access to parks and recreation programs. Many services are unavailable to illegal immigrants, the report said, and others, such as the right to public education, are constitutionally protected.

Illegal immigration was also on the agenda yesterday for the Loudoun County supervisors, who tentatively decided to increase fines for residential overcrowding as part of that county's attempt to target illegal immigrants. They also agreed to require some companies that do business with the county to certify that they follow immigration laws.

But the board postponed a decision about whether nonprofit organizations should do the same. Heads of several nonprofit groups asked the board not to put the burden of enforcement on their shoulders.

"The nonprofits in this county exist to help the government serve the people," said Barbara Notar, head of the Loudoun Literacy Council. "Please show us you appreciate that by supporting our mission rather than burdening us with regulations that will be nearly impossible for us to implement."

Staff writer Sandhya Somashekhar contributed to this report.