Dan Genz, The Examiner
2007-07-02 07:00:00.0
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Prince William County -

Prince William County supervisors are considering whether a fresh proposal to curb illegal immigrants’ access to county services will cost too much and lock the county into years of lawsuits.

Supervisor John Stirrup, R-Gainesville, introduced a resolution Tuesday requiring the county to check the immigration status of all residents before providing services. He said it was carefully written to stand up to a legal challenge and should cost next to nothing to enforce.

But members of both parties said it might be necessary to delay a possible July 10 vote until they can put a dollar figure on its impact and evaluate its legal implications.

“People are concerned we don’t rush into the wrong thing,” said Supervisor Wally Covington, R-Brentsville.

Covington, a critic of illegal immigration, said the resolution is a result of “desperation” to take a stand on the issue.

But if its enforcement will have a significant price tag, Covington said, there might be reason to wait.

Stirrup said supervisors would have “ample time” to study the resolution’s impact before the July 10 board meeting.

“We need to move forward on this,” Stirrup said. “This resolution does comport with federal and Virginia codes and should stand up to any court test.”

But others say its provision to deny some services could be too broad, inviting legal challenges.

“What we had presented to us is contrary to the laws of the commonwealth,” said Supervisor John Jenkins, D-Neabsco. “It will result in a lot of expensive litigation for the county.”

Because the resolution would force county agencies to change their policies, Jenkins also argued it would legally require a public hearing. That would force an additional delay before a vote.

But any postponement should not spell failure, said Greg Letiecq, president of Help Save Manassas, an anti-immigration group that applauded Stirrup’s proposal.

“The overcrowding issues and the impacts on our municipal budget are not something we can endlessly debate,” Letiecq said.

dgenz@dcexaminer.com