More Fallout From Immigrant Policy

Last fall, Stewart was successful in blocking an attempt by the Mexican government to send a human rights delegation to Prince William after the county approved the crackdown measures, which deny certain services to those residing in the county illegally and increase immigration checks by police.

On Thursday, however, Stewart's concerns about the legality of Deane's appearance with Escorza were dismissed.

"There was no reason not to go, because it was consistent with the other meetings that have been held," Assistant County Executive Susan L. Roltsch said.

Deane noted that he met with nearly a dozen consular officials as recently as June without any objection from Stewart or others. But the political climate in the county has changed substantially since then, as divisions have hardened and many in the county's Latino community say a hostile climate is pushing them out.

More than 100 Latino residents crammed into a narrow corridor at the Hi Mart shopping center along Route 1 in Woodbridge to hear Deane take questions about the policies. Escorza sat next to him, saying he was there to facilitate immigrants' questions. He added that his presence could provide reassurance to those in the community who now fear that any encounter with police could lead to their arrest and deportation.

"I hope [immigrants] feel safe here," said Escorza, who handed out credit-card-size plastic pamphlets with the consulate's phone number and a list of their rights. "We're here to provide services to them and information."

Escorza, who said his consular duties include meeting with local authorities to assist Mexican nationals, said he had not come to the Hi Mart to conduct diplomatic negotiations or make speeches. "This is an informational meeting, not a political rally," he said.

But the meeting did not provide the assurance many of the immigrants in attendance said they were looking for. When Deane urged listeners not to lose trust in county police or to stop reporting crimes, some pointed out that his officers had assisted federal immigration officers in a raid on a Manassas company earlier in the week, blurring the distinction between local police and much-feared federal officers.

Again and again during the two-hour session, the crowd pressed Deane for yes-or-no answers as to whether their immigration status would be checked if they were in a car accident but not at fault, or as the passenger of another driver. But Deane did not offer guarantees, explaining that most cases would be subject to individual officers' discretion. When the crowd heard that a suspect's inability to speak English well would be a factor, a groan went up.

"I think people are even more confused," said Rafael Garrido, 38, a Mexican immigrant who has lived in Woodbridge for 10 years. After listening to the nuances of Deane's explanation of "probable cause," he boiled it down to this dire formula: "If we get pulled over, we're going to be deported."