Loudoun County supervisors studying a bushel basket of new measures to battle illegal immigration will hold a key work session tonight that could lead to new sanctions for companies that hire illegal immigrants and new restrictions on who can receive some county services.

The meeting is to give the public a better view of the many options the county is weighing from tougher law enforcement and new penalties for zoning violations to forcing county-funded nonprofit organizations to check legal status.

Companies could be required to certify that all employees are legal residents. If later found to have hired someone in the country illegally, firms could lose county

contracts or their county business licenses.

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Supervisors proposed in July to deny county services to illegal immigrants and require businesses to have an entirely legal work force. This is the first workshop they have had to address the options for meeting their goals.

“We’re asking the question, ‘What can we do?’ ” Vice Chairman Bruce Tulloch said. “I’m out knocking on doors, I’ve knocked on 3,000 to 4,000 now and I get the question more and more because a lot of people want to talk about what are we going to do to address illegal immigration.”

Supervisors will receive a report from Sheriff Steve Simpson on the county's effort to screen new inmates and refer illegal residents charged with crimes to the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency for deportation proceedings.

They will also have a chance to interview nonprofit organization leaders about the efforts they take to establish legal status.

Several speakers asked the board Tuesday to refrain from adopting new measures related to illegal immigration until conducting broad reviews on the issue.

“Effective local action depends on careful local studies,” said Malcolm McDowell of Lovettsville. “Draconian measures will simply make Loudoun look stupid and mean and not effective.”

But Republican board supervisor candidate Gary Higgins of the Catoctin District said the board must follow through on its efforts in order to address strong community concerns about the negative effects of illegal immigration.

dgenz@dcexaminer.com