Prince William County’s sweeping immigration reform proposal has already led to one change in police enforcement.

Police officers are no longer prohibited from asking about suspects’ immigration status in most misdemeanor cases.

Police Chief Charlie Deane recently suspended a two-year-old policy that prohibited officers from checking someone’s immigration status unless the crimes involved gang, gun, terrorism or felony offenses.

Though the county board has yet to vote on a plan denying county services to illegal immigrants and making it easier to deport those who break the law, Deane said, the police department policy is changing.

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He is developing a new policy for dealing with illegal immigrants taking into account the county’s productive partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Deane said that Prince William County police have helped deport or begin deportation proceedings against 368 “criminal aliens” in the last 3 1/2 years and has been tough on illegal immigrants who have broken the law.

Deane said that because immigration enforcement is primarily a federal issue, local police are not allowed to arrest someone just because he may be an illegal immigrant.

The old policy, general order 26.05, says “The Prince William County Police Department will not carry out immigration-related investigations nor routinely make inquiries to the immigration status of persons encountered during police operations.”

Opponents had called it a “sanctuary” provision that gave illegal immigrants protection from scrutiny and a second chance when they broke the law.

“It is encouraging that the police department is trying to be responsive to concerns of the community,” said Greg Letiecq, president of Help Save Manassas, a group that opposes illegal immigration.

Illegal immigration vote postponed

» A benchmark vote on illegal immigration bill planned for today in Prince William County has been postponed at least two weeks to accommodate a public hearing on the controversial plan.

» The proposal by Supervisor John Stirrup, R-Gainesville, would deny county services to illegal immigrants and make it easier to deport lawbreakers.

» Officials have warned the board that the resolution would deter victims and witnesses from reporting crimes for fear of being

dgenz@dcexaminer.com