Tough Law Reduced Immigrants, Study Shows

New York Times ^ | November 16, 2010

[La Lydia]

A study of an Arizona-style immigration policy in Prince William County, Va., found that it reduced the number of illegal immigrants in the county, but that its effect on violent crime was inconclusive. The study was conducted by the University of Virginia and the Police Executive Research Forum...at the request of the county. It looked at data from 2007, when the policy was proposed, through 2009.

Prince William County began enforcing the tough immigration law, similar to one that was passed later in Arizona and is now facing legal challenges, in 2008. The county’s law required police officers to check the immigration status of anyone they had probable cause to believe was in the country illegally.

The county executive, Corey Stewart, pushed the policy in a campaign that polarized residents...The county’s police department, which paid for the study, expressed concern that the law would be expensive to carry out and that it would lead to accusations of racial profiling, and eight weeks later, it was suspended. It was later revised to apply only to those who had been arrested.

While the county’s foreign-born population more than doubled in the past decade, according to the Migration Policy Institute, a rise largely attributable to the housing boom in northern Virginia, the report found that there were 3,000 to 6,000 fewer illegal immigrants in the county in 2009, compared with 2006....

“I believe that if someone is here illegally, they should be deported,” Stewart said. “But from a more practical perspective, we should be focusing on those illegal immigrants who are committing crimes.”...

Christopher Koper, director of research at the research forum and one of the authors...said a significant finding was the sharp drop in aggravated assaults immediately after the announcement of the policy in 2007....

[La Lydia]

It can be done, IF ELECTED OFFICIALS WANT TO DO IT.

[La Lydia]

open borders ping

[thethirddegree]

We need to deport or imprison ALL illegal aliens, including their anchor babies, seal/secure the border with a wall and fence, and have a lethal response to anyone who tries to re-enter illegally. I’m tired of this scum ruining my country.

[RockinRight]

its effect on violent crime was inconclusive.

In other words, we're afraid to offend anyone to admit it went down.

[Palter]

3,000 to 6,000 fewer illegal immigrants in the county in 2009, compared with 2006

Just one county. Unreal at the number of invaders in this country.

[RC2]

If elected officials won’t enforce current law, they should be either thrown out of office or arrested. It’s so simple it is amazing.

[NEMDF]

Or... “we are keeping that info secret, because we don't want to admit that we have been tracking the violent crimes committed by illegals compared to the violent crimes committed by non-illegals....”

[Maverick68]

The immigration problem can be solved with the stroke of a pen:
No benefits WHATSOEVER for ANYONE in the country illegally and the problem will solve itself by attrition...

[freespirited]

“We have no indication that the enforcement of the policy led to a reduction in crime,” Mr. Koper said. “Crime trends have been steady.”

Odd, I've been reading the opposite -- reports that crime has dropped substantially in Prince Wm and gone up instead in an adjacent county that welcomes illegals (Crazy Fairfax).

[La Lydia]

Corey Stewart was just on WMAL. Crime, in particular assaults, are WAY down in Prince William. Also, he said crime is WAY UP in Loudon, and steady in Crazy Fairfax. I am under the impression that the reporting is time-lagged and it is up in the People’s Republic of Fairfax, as well.

[HiJinx]

Ping!