Acting on immigration

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As the federal government flounders on illegal immigration reform, Virginians have begun to act

Date published: 8/6/2007

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION is one of the nation's most pressing worries. But that wasn't enough to reconcile the enablers and the border warriors in the recent immigration slugfest on Capitol Hill.

Torn between those who favor giving people who knowingly broke our laws the precious reward of U.S. citizenship, and those who sensibly say, "First, fix the borders," the country ended up with nothing at all.

Happily, our federalist system still gives states a modicum of independence--and some in Virginia are looking to stop the flood of illegal aliens into the Old Dominion. One idea: Mandate that sheriffs and jail wardens begin deportation proceedings against known illegal aliens now in custody. It's a small step, but long overdue.

The proposal, by state Sen. Kenneth Stolle, R-Virginia Beach, still needs a nod from the State Crime Commission and from the General Assembly. But the very idea reminds us that residents of the states needn't always wait for dictates from Washington.

As abrogation of federal responsibility on immigration continues, Virginians have begun to act. Consider, for example, recent decisions in Prince William and Loudoun counties to deny free public services to illegals (and the less enticing proposal in Spotsylvania County to specify the relationships of those who can inhabit a house). True, the General Assembly killed most of the 50 immigration bills introduced last session, but that was before Congress and the president botched the job.

To be sure, no one state can solve the immigration problem--but Virginia and its localities are proving that they can at least make a statement: No mas.

Date published: 8/6/2007

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