Prince William County Now Says Immgration Enforcement is Too Expensive

In the end it may be realistic things like budgets that will slow down or stop the rabid move of many communities to eliminate any residents that are undocumented.

They will find out first that its too expensive to track everybody down. Then once everyone is gone, their local economy will almost collapse.


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Citing Cost, Prince William Delays Immigrant Measures
Support of Crackdown Affirmed Amid New Caution
By Nick Miroff
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 3, 2007; Page A01


Prince William County supervisors slowed their closely watched crackdown on illegal immigrants yesterday, as one of the nation's most aggressive efforts at local enforcement has run into the reality of budget constraints at a time of declining revenue.

County supervisors remained united in wanting to show that local governments can do more to rid their towns of illegal immigrants, voting unanimously to support a new police policy that increases residency checks and improves cooperation with federal immigration authorities. But when it came to allocating the $14.2 million it would cost to implement the policy, the supervisors balked, voting to revisit the issue later.

The board's vote, taken late yesterday afternoon after spirited public debate, delays the implementation of the key elements of the immigration policy.

Specifically, supervisors said it was too soon to commit money for any of the measures. With property values falling by 10 percent or more and a $575,000 cut in state funding for county police services projected, several supervisors urged more time and caution.

"Part of me feels like we've been pulled away from our central mission," said Supervisor W.S. "Wally" Covington III (R-Brentsville). "For me, what this has always been about is what the cost is."

Supervisors also postponed their vote on proposals that would have denied county services to illegal immigrants, arguing that more time is needed to study the costs and potential consequences. The suggested service cuts outlined at yesterday's meeting did not put a price on tighter residency checks by county staff members. Supervisors also postponed their vote on funding a seven-officer Criminal Alien Unit within the police department...

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