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ImmigrationProf Blog
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For Every Action There is a Reaction: Immigration Enforcement in One Virginia County Has Ripple Effects

By immigrationprof

The Washington Post has a story today about the first day a Prince William County ordinance was in effect that allows police to check people’s immigration status for minor legal (including traffic) infractions. Police officials pledged to enforce the law fairly and to not stop and question individuals based on their racial or ethnic appearance, but many Latina/o residents said they feared they would be stopped without reason and deported for such violations as driving without a valid license or having a broken taillight.  Immigrant advocate groups have been advising immigrants without legal papers to keep a low profile and obey all traffic rules. If stopped by police, the groups said, they should be polite and show some identification but otherwise remain silent until they can see a lawyer.

Not coincidentally, in nearby Montgomery County, residents reportedly watch for influx of immigrants from Prince William County.   Some residents in Montgomery County worry their property values and quality of life will take a hit as the undocumented come streaming across the Potomac, invited by the county’s more lenient approach.

KJ