Pr. William Arrests 41 People in First Month of Immigration Crackdown

Pr. William Arrests 41 People in First Month of [Illegal] Immigration Crackdown

By Kristen Mack
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, April 3, 2008; 11:54 AM

Prince William County Police Chief Charlie T. Deane has provided more details about the county's first month of increased illegal-immigration enforcement, seeking to show how officers are carrying out the measure.

Of 89 people questioned about their citizenship or immigration status since the enforcement began March 3, two were found to be in the country legally, Deane said yesterday, and the rest were thought to be in the country illegally.

Forty-one of those 87 were arrested. Seven people were charged with felonies, among them attempted murder, cocaine possession and shoplifting. Thirty-two people were charged with misdemeanors, which included public drunkenness, domestic assault and lack of a driver's license. Two others were detained on immigration-related charges.

Among the other 46 thought to be in the country illegally, 21 were released without charges and 25 were given citations for minor offenses. Police are referring the 87 cases to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Board of County Supervisors voted last fall to direct officers to check the citizenship or immigration status of crime suspects who they think might be in the country illegally.