Loudoun Illegal Immigration Measure- Crass Political Opportunism or Economic Necessity
I received quite a few emails in response to my previous posting on the possibility of Loudoun County Board of Supervisors (BOS) adopting an Illegal Immigration resolution similar to the one passed recently by Prince William County Board of Supervisors, which they did the very next day. Some were wondering if I had been tipped off, here is the truth - I was not tipped off - I just knew it was too good of an opportunity for politicians to ignore and someone was going to take advantage of it, and they did.
Yesterday afternoon, Loudoun County BOS Chairman Scott York (I) at a press conference indicated that Loudoun BOS will study the plan very carefully. I guess that will buy the board more time, as I am sure no one on the board has a clue how the resolution will be implemented. Why would they adopt a resolution without considering the implications? Why the rush to adopt what some has described as a "toothless" resolution that would be impossible to implement? Did they seek the input of local law enforcement agencies?
Is this a vote fishing move by jittery politicians eager to take advantage of the media attention this issue will bring? Crass Political Opportunism or Economic Necessity? The jury is out.
11 comments:
I would say its a mix. I definitely see political opportunism sneaking in here---I wrote about that on this post on my blog; I reserve judgment on the necessity until the report comes out.
Unfortunately, it seems like these kinds of resolutions are needed to bring attention to problems on a greater area. PWC and LC resolutions have been more than just local news, and that may get Congress and the President to eventually act on the issue, instead of grandstanding and achieving nothing.
The verdict is in, BOS action is a matter of economic necessity, not political opportunism as you and a few others may want us to believe.
Pure political opportunism, they are trying to feed off public sentiment, politicians will always be politicians - cold-blooded.
Of course economic neccessity, do you have children in the public school system?
Has anybody considered unintended consequences? Just in case new legislation doesn't result in all immigrants leaving Loudoun County. (What if they have no access to, or are afraid to access: vaccines, birth control, law enforcement services, mental health services.) I wouldn't want to be around people who cannot access basic government services, and it doesn't matter to me what kind of paperwork is in their pocket. Hopefully the BOS is aware of the potential consequences, and this is just grandstanding.
Have you been to Sterling Park? Will you be happy if English becomes the second language of choice? Folks, our way of life is being threatened.
The school system has nothing to do with the local debate. It has been decided at the federal level that you cannot deny access to schools to illegal immigrants.
I hope the report will be very enlightening on how much illegal immigrants use the services that the county can actually choose to deny.
Most of this is a red herring anyway. The main reason why "illegal immigrants" are using public services is for their children, most of whom are American citizens. Can't deny them in any case. My biggest worry is that if all the illegal immigrants leave the costs of having a deck built, having your home cleaned, or getting a house built will go up even higher. No thanks. I like the cheap labor. Besides, most of them work as hard or harder than an average American. Let's not "cut off our nose to spite our face".
Okay, so Loudoun County decides to deny services to illegals. How do they decide who is here illegally? Are they planning to ask everybody for proof of legal presence (like DMV) or are they going to be more selective? As a citizen, I sure as heck don't want to have to carry around proof that I'm here legally in case I choose to use government services. And I also have a problem with having a county employee picking and choosing who will be subject to such scrutiny -- can you say lawsuit? An ordinance like this is destined for failure, but it plays to peoples' emotions well; does anyone really think it's a coincidence that this idea is being entertained in an election year? HA!
Economic necessity. Per the PEW Hispanic Center publish on April of 2006, illegal immigrants are 3.3-3.9% of Virginia population. If 3.9% of our 50,000 school students are illegal, the cost to educate them grades 1-12 at todays budget allotment of $12000 per student is $288,800,000.. Annual cost is $23,400,000. This does NOT include cost of new school construction, or escalating per student costs.. Also, 3.9% is a statewide average, the Loudoun non-native student percentage is much higher than that of the state average, and our illegal student population is likely similarly much higher.. We are spending $17,000,000 ESL students alone. This figure has increased 300% in only three years..
> No thanks. I like the cheap labor.
The precise cause of the illegal immigration problem, too many folks lining their pockets.. As for housing cost, it is the market that drives these prices, not the cost of labor..
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