Immigrant Proposal Divides Frederick

And so the proposal is more a symbolic statement -- a fractious one.

"For a proposal like this to cut at the heart and bring tension, it's just a divisive proposal that will turn back all of the hard work that has been done to bring our community together," said Guy Djoken, president of the local NAACP chapter.

Salvadoran native Rosi Arriaza, who rings up customers at the A-International Market on West Patrick Street in the west end of town where many immigrants are settling, agreed.

"People here are scared," Arriaza said under the chatter of a telenovela. Two weeks ago, when police pulled into the parking lot, she recalled telling customers: "Go home. Don't stay here. It's dangerous."

"People are scared that the government will send them home," she said.

"I've been here 20-something years, and I've never seen something like this before," said Oscar Lazo, who also emigrated from El Salvador and runs a Mexican restaurant a few doors down. "It's like we are being chased out."

"We just came here to work hard and improve the economy of this county," Lazo added. "We are not coming here to create problems for the county."

In 2000, Frederick County had about 7,800 foreign-born residents. By last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, that number had soared to more than 19,000 -- an estimate some community leaders call conservative.

"If indeed there was a homogeneity 15 years ago, today there's much more diversity," said the Rev. John Deckenback, who opposes Jenkins's proposal. "Some people reminisce that they want to roll the clock back to being a Sleepy Hollow, being a nice little village on the edge of the D.C. metropolitan area."

The influx of immigrants has hit a nerve. One resident wrote in an e-mail to the commissioners, "Is Frederick County a 'Sanctuary County' for illegal aliens? In my observation, illegal aliens are operating with impunity here."

Another wrote, "It's about time. Finally someone is taking serious, tangible action."

Jenkins said he was persuaded to introduce his proposal after a series of summer budget meetings in which county officials said they needed more money for interpreters who speak Spanish. The school system asked for $2.9 million for interpreters, up from $2.2 million the year before.