Pr. William Immingration Crackdown To Cost More Than Planned
March 2, 2008 | Virginia News
First-Year Estimate Rises to $6.4 Million
Prince William County's much-publicized plan to curb illegal immigration goes into effect tomorrow, facing new questions about whether it will bring the "big bang for the buck" that Board of County Supervisors Chairman Corey A. Stewart predicts.
Nearly four months after the board approved the plan, the supervisors now realize it is going to cost more than expected without a clear way to measure its impact.
The policy requires Prince William police to check a suspect's citizenship, even in minor offenses, if they think the person might be in the country illegally. It also denies some county services to illegal immigrants.
The board learned Tuesday that it will cost Prince William $6.4 million to enforce the policy in the first year, more than twice as much as estimated. The five-year price tag is about $26 million.
