A visiting delegation of four German lawmakers debated two Prince William County leaders Monday as they tried to learn how U.S. politicians are handling the heated illegal immigration issue.

The 75-minute session offered an extended chance for Prince William County Chairman Corey Stewart and Supervisor John Stirrup to offer their rationale for sweeping local reforms to the German politicians, who support illegal immigration.

But Zahra Mohammadzadeh, a Bremen-area lawmaker who emigrated from Iran, said U.S. politicians should advertise that the American Dream is a fantasy for most if illegal immigrants are going to be denied some county services and threatened with deportation for seeking employment in Prince William County.

“Who is responsible for this American dream that young people have?” Mohammadzadeh asked. “We should say the situation is not what you think.”

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But Stewart tried to describe the issue in terms of laws and emphasized that county leaders are interested only in deporting immigrants who break local laws. While he said Prince William County residents welcome legal immigrants with open arms, the county doesn’t have the resources to accommodate the massive influx of illegal residents the area has seen since 2002.

But Ozcan Mutlu, a representative in Berlin’s parliament, said the county seemed to be targeting immigrants instead of going after the root cause: young people seeking jobs for a better future.

“I am more for solving problems than looking for someone to blame,” said Ozcan Mutlu, a representative in Berlin’s legislature, “My point of view is, why don’t you just make them legal?”

“Germany does not border a Third World country,” Stewart responded. “You would be flooded by millions of illegal immigrants who come in and say, ‘I’m here, I’m legal.’ ”

The Germans are in the U.S. for a week examining immigration issues.