Posted on July 13, 2010

Suit Won’t Deter Pr. William Leader’s Immigration Law Push

Jennifer Buske, Washington Post, July 11, 2010

The Justice Department’s lawsuit against Arizona’s controversial immigration law won’t stop Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chairman Corey A. Stewart’s campaign to bring a similar law to Virginia.

If anything, said Stewart (R-At Large), he will push harder to get legislation passed at the state level that would enhance police officials’ power to capture, detain and deport illegal immigrants and create specific Virginia penalties for illegal immigrants.

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Last month, Stewart launched the Virginia Rule of Law Campaign to rally support for Virginia immigration legislation. Stewart said Virginia needs to follow in Arizona’s footsteps, even if it sends President Obama’s administration after the commonwealth.

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Prince William has received national attention for its crackdown on illegal immigration. The county’s law, enacted in 2007 and modified in 2008, requires that police officers check the immigration status of all people arrested on suspicion of violating a state or local law. Stewart said his campaign for a Virginia law is his own, not something he is doing as chairman of the board.

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