Filling the Void After High School

For Immigrants Lacking Visas, Normalcy Ends With Graduation

Monday, Jan. 14, 2008

Marcelino Benitez said his best academic year was 12th grade. He got all A’s and B’s, learned to install heating and air-conditioning systems in a vocational training program and won a college scholarship. But unlike many of his classmates, he dreaded graduation. After that ceremony, the Mexican immigrant had a diploma from Virginia but still lacked the other documents he needed to make his way in the United States. Read story and 1 comment »

Virginia Coalition To Focus On Illegal Immigration

Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007

County and city leaders from several Virginia jurisdictions have formed a group to push for tougher measures against illegal immigrants, the latest sign that local governments in the state will look for new ways to act while immigration reform remains stalled in Congress. Read story »

Parts of Sterling May Be Target Of Stiffer Zoning Enforcement

Friday, Nov. 30, 2007

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted last night to step up enforcement of anti-crowding and other zoning laws in an area where some officials have blamed illegal immigrants for bringing blight to the neighborhood. Read story and 1 comment »

Feds Reimburse County for Jail Costs

Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007

Loudoun County is getting reimbursed through a federal program for some of the costs it incurs to house incarcerated illegal immigrants who have committed serious crimes. Read story »

Panel Urges Action by State Police on Immigration

Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007

The Virginia Crime Commission called on the General Assembly on Tuesday to ask Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) to require state troopers to help federal authorities detain and deport illegal immigrants. Read story »

Losses Might Doom GOP-Led Crackdown on Illegal Immigrants

Friday, Nov. 9, 2007

House Republican leaders, who made immigration a centerpiece of the fall campaign, said Thursday that efforts in the Virginia General Assembly to crack down on illegal immigrants probably are doomed because of losses their party suffered in the election this week. Read story »

In the Ballot Booths, No Fixation on Immigration

Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007

Voters across Virginia chose candidates in state and local elections yesterday not out of anger over illegal immigration but based on party affiliation, a preference for moderation and strong views on such key issues as residential growth and traffic congestion. Read story and 2 comments »

Poll Finds N.Va. Focused On Illegal Immigrants

Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007

After years of simmering in the background, illegal immigration has quickly emerged as one of the key issues in Virginia’s Nov. 6 election, particularly in Northern Virginia, where voters say they are seeking candidates who will address it, according to a new Washington Post poll. Read story and 2 comments »

Pr. William Enacts Resolution Aimed at Illegal Immigrants

Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007

Prince William County supervisors early this morning voted to move forward with a nationally watched plan to crack down on illegal immigrants by increasing local police enforcement and restricting certain public services. Read story and 1 comment »

Pr. William Immigration Resolution Prompts Plaintiffs’ Action

Cross Section of Residents Suing Over Crackdown

Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007

The federal lawsuit filed last week against Prince William County paints a broad picture of those who believe they will be affected by the crackdown on illegal immigration. Read story and 1 comment »

Pr. William Sued Over Crackdown on Illegal Residents

Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007

Civil rights groups filed a lawsuit yesterday targeting Prince William County’s closely watched crackdown on illegal immigration, arguing that a measure ordering police to check the immigration status of people in custody violates federal law. Read story »

Drawn to Politics, Latino Advocacy Group Chief Resigns

Valle to Move Past Scope of Nonprofit

Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007

Laura Valle, executive director of La Voz of Loudoun, said Tuesday that she was resigning from the organization. Read story and 2 comments »

Localities Brace for Cuts in Funding for Police

Friday, Oct. 5, 2007

Local police chiefs throughout Virginia fear that public safety cuts are looming at a time when residents in some jurisdictions are demanding that their departments shoulder new responsibility in enforcing federal immigration laws. Read story »

Prince William Law Seen As a Test

Board Considers Services to Deny Illegal Immigrants

Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007

As soon as Prince William County announced its plan to deny services to undocumented immigrants, calls began coming in from as far as Arizona and Washington state, as local governments across the country look for new strategies to target people in the country illegally. Read story »